Anyone know how to help my Japanese g/f with H1B get a job in south florida?

[alkemyst]

West Palm Beach area. She came to work for the company I used to work for and they are a bunch of wads...told her stuff like she had to work 50 hours straight to get a two day weekend, 10 hours a day before any break, etc...they were playing a lot of other games with clients that I didn't agree with so I quit the job, later on she did too...somewhere along the way we became a couple.

SO now the hard part, she needs a new job and H1B sponser. She was a pretty high level employee back in Tokyo. Her company was a direct consultant for IBM. An IBM employee was the project manager, she was one of the group leaders that oversaw the Junior and Senior Level Analysts and Programmers. She has a MIS degree also.

They would go in, meet with the company and design an outline to automate them, then develop a database, application and handle the tech support / training. Each project lasted several months. They even did the programming for the Japanese Agricultural Cooperative Pig Farm .

She knows programming and many databases....websphere and all that good stuff.

If anyone knows any kind of lead we can follow, I would appreciate it.

Thanks

Chris

 

[jlee75]

she can apply for H1B. they raised the quota a couple years ago. But it's expensive. You need an immigration lawyer to help handle the paperwork and filings. Another alternative, is to get a company to get her here on a J1 training visa. The company sponsors her for a perdiod of 18 months. Easier to get and no quotas on it. Less expensive. During her stay she can apply for H1B.

Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[AnimeKnight]

Marry her.. then looking for a job is a lot easier

 

[alkemyst]

That J1 sounds like a possible plan...she already is on a H1B thats good for 3 years as long as someone updates it.

Marriage is not a way to keep someone in the country. Once there visa expires they have to go back to their country until citizenship is granted or they are eligible for another temporary stay.

After 9/11 a lot of this is more difficult, and it already was pretty hard after the rules put in place to keep american merchants from hiring foreigners willing to work here at sweat shop rates .

 

[AU Tiger]

Good luck to you and your gf.

H1Bs have a hard time finding work now. There are too many citizens in the job market to justify a company sponsoring a H1B. The reality is that a lot of people are having to return to their countries now that the IT market is down.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Consider looking in the Ft Lauderdale area.

Get her resume sent out to the local headhunters in the S. Florida area.

6 years ago, Alpine Engineering in Pompano used a lot of H1s

 

[StageLeft]

Marriage is not a way to keep someone in the country. Once there visa expires they have to go back to their country until citizenship is granted or they are eligible for another temporary stay.

That isn't the case; right after you are married she can apply for a greencard. I'm not sure how long it takes but it's pretty quick, and then she can stay in the country as long as she is married to you (I believe she has to stay married for a couple of years or something, since during this time it's a conditional greencard...). Anyway you could check into that from somebody who knows how to do it, but if you got married she could get her greencard quickly and visas concerns would be a thing of the past.

6 years ago, Alpine Engineering in Pompano used a lot of H1s

Lots has changed in 6 years!

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
6 years ago, Alpine Engineering in Pompano used a lot of H1s

Lots has changed in 6 years![/quote]

How true, but it is a lead for them to dig into.

Also, look into the Mia or Orlando area depending on how desperate you get and how far you are willing to drive and/or relocate.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Marriage is not a way to keep someone in the country. Once there visa expires they have to go back to their country until citizenship is granted or they are eligible for another temporary stay.

That isn't the case; right after you are married she can apply for a greencard. I'm not sure how long it takes but it's pretty quick, and then she can stay in the country as long as she is married to you (I believe she has to stay married for a couple of years or something, since during this time it's a conditional greencard...). Anyway you could check into that from somebody who knows how to do it, but if you got married she could get her greencard quickly and visas concerns would be a thing of the past.

6 years ago, Alpine Engineering in Pompano used a lot of H1s

Lots has changed in 6 years!

They changed the marriage thing esp since 9/11...it used to be (until April here at least, and I think it is national) that you could get married and stay until you were approved or the appeals process was done (read this as you could stay forever)...now the foreign spouse must leave when the visa expires and wait until approved...this can take a couple years I believe.

Thanks for the suggestions, and if anyone knows a loophole let me know

 

[rahvin]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Marriage is not a way to keep someone in the country. Once there visa expires they have to go back to their country until citizenship is granted or they are eligible for another temporary stay.

That isn't the case; right after you are married she can apply for a greencard. I'm not sure how long it takes but it's pretty quick, and then she can stay in the country as long as she is married to you (I believe she has to stay married for a couple of years or something, since during this time it's a conditional greencard...). Anyway you could check into that from somebody who knows how to do it, but if you got married she could get her greencard quickly and visas concerns would be a thing of the past.

6 years ago, Alpine Engineering in Pompano used a lot of H1s

Lots has changed in 6 years!

They changed the marriage thing esp since 9/11...it used to be (until April here at least, and I think it is national) that you could get married and stay until you were approved or the appeals process was done (read this as you could stay forever)...now the foreign spouse must leave when the visa expires and wait until approved...this can take a couple years I believe.

Thanks for the suggestions, and if anyone knows a loophole let me know

If marriage is an option and you aren't just looking for excuses you really should call the INS about it because I think you are WAY WAY off base. Marrige is an almost immediate greencard. Sure you have to submit the paperwork but I would be supprised if approval takes more than a week or two. They aren't going to deport her if she married you legally, regardless if her visa expires before the paperwork is approved. It's certainlly NOT the drawn out process you are implying it is.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: rahvin

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Marriage is not a way to keep someone in the country. Once there visa expires they have to go back to their country until citizenship is granted or they are eligible for another temporary stay.

That isn't the case; right after you are married she can apply for a greencard. I'm not sure how long it takes but it's pretty quick, and then she can stay in the country as long as she is married to you (I believe she has to stay married for a couple of years or something, since during this time it's a conditional greencard...). Anyway you could check into that from somebody who knows how to do it, but if you got married she could get her greencard quickly and visas concerns would be a thing of the past.

6 years ago, Alpine Engineering in Pompano used a lot of H1s

Lots has changed in 6 years!

They changed the marriage thing esp since 9/11...it used to be (until April here at least, and I think it is national) that you could get married and stay until you were approved or the appeals process was done (read this as you could stay forever)...now the foreign spouse must leave when the visa expires and wait until approved...this can take a couple years I believe.

Thanks for the suggestions, and if anyone knows a loophole let me know

If marriage is an option and you aren't just looking for excuses you really should call the INS about it because I think you are WAY WAY off base. Marrige is an almost immediate greencard. Sure you have to submit the paperwork but I would be supprised if approval takes more than a week or two. They aren't going to deport her if she married you legally, regardless if her visa expires before the paperwork is approved. It's certainlly NOT the drawn out process you are implying it is.

That soon? I really don't know. I'd be very surprised if it was that quick. The girl I know who is from Canada and just married a US guy - it's taking longer for her - but I'm almost totally positive it's not a two year process (they got married in June I believe).

Rhavin is right that you need to either talk to INS (who may or may not be useful), or perhaps better a practiced immigration lawyer. THey are easy to find.

I've been looking into immigration stuff for weeks for mrs.skoorb and I only know about greencards whatever I've read here and there (which isn't much, since that's not my issue), but I often read things that are totally incorrect on message boards. AFAIK a lot of things have not changed since 9/11. Most of the processes are the same as before, so you'd be shooting yourself in the foot if you're not totally positive of it all. I know that if mrs.skoorb becomes a nurse she can have a greencard in a matter of months and so marrying a US citizen must be at least as fast as that.

 

[rh71]

You said the magic word. Websphere. Run a monster search... you'll see Java programmers with 3-4 years experience earn 80k/yr. in NY... let alone Websphere experience.

<-- websphere hopeful @ IBM. (damn it's tough goings)...

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: rh71
You said the magic word. Websphere. Run a monster search... you'll see Java programmers with 3-4 years experience earn 80k/yr. in NY... let alone Websphere experience.

<-- websphere hopeful @ IBM. (damn it's tough goings)...

Getting tech jobs sucks, but if she is as good as you say, alkmyst, at least she has a much better shot than the average joe out there.

 

[rufruf44]

Marriage does indeed seemed to be the quickest and easiest way. Even if she managed to get a H1-B sponsor to transfer her existing H1-B, she will have harder time getting her labor certifications approved if she wanted to get GC in the future.

Like several has said, if she's married to you, she'll automatically have her GC. It might take up to and over a year to actually get the document processed, but she'll receive a work authorization once she file the form with INS.

What I'm a bit worry is if she quit her job, what exactly her status here in the US? IIRC, H1-B recipient only have 60 days after termination to resume employment at another company, or their status will be nullified and she has to leave the country. Otherwise, she'll be blacklisted and can't enter the US for a period of 10 years.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: rh71
You said the magic word. Websphere. Run a monster search... you'll see Java programmers with 3-4 years experience earn 80k/yr. in NY... let alone Websphere experience.

<-- websphere hopeful @ IBM. (damn it's tough goings)...

Two problems

1) She has to find a company that will do the H1B program

2) I think that there may be some hormones at work which will lock her into the S Florida area for a while.

Best bet is to hit the headhunter boards and the
Sun Sentinal or the Herald

 

[alkemyst]

It's not the same anymore...there was a big write up in the paper actually how they are now sending spouses back to wait....too many people getting married and then divorced soon after...also they noticed a lot of people asking each other what there names were at the 'altar' (front desk at the courthouse).

They had a moritorium until 4/30 where you'd be able to stay until approved, now it's until the current visa you are here on expires. It sucks, because she is someone that can contribute alot. She spoke with a lawyer and he is looking into loopholes....I have not brought up marriage yet....it's a little harder for me as I have one divorce and one other broken engagement...I don't want her to be another 'Here he goes again'.

I can relocate actually since I work from home via the internet and phone.

Thanks though, these ideas are helping.

Chris

 

[EagleKeeper]

Two additional leads that I thought of (while at lunch)

State Employment office gets a large amount of listings. Some of them are companies in the IT area looking for H1 (even though they can not say so; it is detectable by the salary guidlines)

Also, in the S Florida area, there is a group/project of unemployed professionals that is setup/supported by the local employment office to assist in locating jobs for their group.
They get advance notice of positions, office space and equipment is made available for their use, etc.
Does not cost anything to join, except for donated time - 4-5 hours per month.

 

[rufruf44]

If everything else fails, she can always apply for a F-1 visa from a university. No income, but at least her status will stay valid.

 

[bmacd]

pics?

-=bmacd=-

 

[jlee75]

Originally posted by: rufruf44
If everything else fails, she can always apply for a F-1 visa from a university. No income, but at least her status will stay valid.

Yeah that's another option. But aren't they also limiting student visas now as well? It's also dependent on what country they're coming from. From countries that there is a lot of US interest, then it should be easier. Also depends on what you're training in as well. Best thing I can suggest at this time is to contact an immigration attorney and find out what the best option is. We can speculate all we want at this point as to which on is easiest, but they know what's going on more than we do.

 

[Murpheeee]

I looked into H1 visas a few years back.

AFAIK you cannot switch jobs once you are here on one.
They are specific to you and teh company who sponsored you.
If she left the company she should no longer be in USA.

If she wants to work for another company she needs to go back to Japan and apply for another one specific to another company.

I gave up on the idea......I heard that certain companies exploit it and treat you like slaves as you cannot leave or else you go home.

Ended up moving here by other means

 

[alkemyst]

The way it works in this case as long as she stays in the computer field or a field relating to her course of study (MIS) she can work if she finds a sponser in the timeframe from her last job thats allowed. She didn't quit, they terminated her since she questioned why she worked for 50 hours and everyone else 40, and why others got to eat lunch and she didn't.

However, that time is running out. The cost is $1000 for a sponser to update her visa.