Jobs in US (FL, CA)

[hestati]

Do you think it is realistic to find to find a job in States now? Most of the listing I see require you to be US resident. I'm looking for engineering related jobs (could be quality or purchasing but in engineering organiization), prefer Florida, but would consider California too. What are the good websites for US jobs, ones I found are really crappy.

Thanks!

[Kappa21]

Do you think it is realistic to find to find a job in States now? Most of the listing I see require you to be US resident. I'm looking for engineering related jobs (could be quality or purchasing but in engineering organiization), prefer Florida, but would consider California too. What are the good websites for US jobs, ones I found are really crappy.

Thanks!

Get booby and Zaidy to sponsor you :D

but you do need to talk with the company before u apply. see if they would sponsor u

[Elfer]

No no, you should take the helpful advice of RFD'ers and move there first under the assumption that you'll be handed a job. There's no chance that the whole thing could blow up in your face.

[poorwingman]

Do you think it is realistic to find to find a job in States now? Most of the listing I see require you to be US resident. I'm looking for engineering related jobs (could be quality or purchasing but in engineering organiization), prefer Florida, but would consider California too. What are the good websites for US jobs, ones I found are really crappy.

Thanks!

are you a new grad or experienced hire? if you have experience, you might want to try linkedin.. but given the legal costs to hire canadian citizens and their weak economy, it might be hard for a canadians to get jobs there..

[hestati]

what? No idea what you guys are talking about...

[pltz77]

In before Mark77 going on and on about Nortel and H1B.

OP it doesn't hurt to give a try, in fact electrical engineering market is doing quite well in CA compare to a few years ago. If you have the right skill set, Visa won't be a problem. Worse case you can always go with the TN route.

[JK400]

In before Mark77 going on and on about Nortel and H1B.

OP it doesn't hurt to give a try, in fact electrical engineering market is doing quite well in CA compare to a few years ago. If you have the right skill set, Visa won't be a problem. Worse case you can always go with the TN route.

LOL pitz77....awesome

Or is that pltz77? don't tell me that was a coincidence :D

[Mark77]

Do you think it is realistic to find to find a job in States now? Most of the listing I see require you to be US resident.


Unless the job requires citizenship for security clearance purposes, and as long as you can qualify for a TN-1 visa (ie: you're a Canadian citizen, and its an engineering job, for instance), then you are indistinguishable from a US resident. My suggestion would be to check off the "US resident" box on the application form, but make a small note saying that you can work in the United States without employer sponsorship (a TN-1 doesn't require employer sponsorship, unlike a H-1B).



I'm looking for engineering related jobs (could be quality or purchasing but in engineering organiization), prefer Florida, but would consider California too. What are the good websites for US jobs, ones I found are really crappy.


There's Monster, Cybercoders, LinkedIn, among others.

[Mark77]

In before Mark77 going on and on about Nortel and H1B.
OP it doesn't hurt to give a try, in fact electrical engineering market is doing quite well in CA compare to a few years ago. If you have the right skill set, Visa won't be a problem. Worse case you can always go with the TN route.

Electrical Engineering market doing well in CA? You're on crack.

Most of the entry-level and even mid-career EE positions with Broadcom that I see on LinkedIn attract 300+ applicants. So good luck getting noticed amidst the sheer numbers. Silicon Valley is all about software and software skills these days (particularly in the social media space), not 'hardware' EE-type skillsets.

[Mark77]

LOL pitz77....awesome

Or is that pltz77? don't tell me that was a coincidence :D

Looks like we have a complete troll on our hands.

[Mark77]

are you a new grad or experienced hire? if you have experience, you might want to try linkedin.. but given the legal costs to hire canadian citizens and their weak economy, it might be hard for a canadians to get jobs there..

There are no "legal costs" to hire a Canadian citizen engineer in the United States, other than the TN-1 fee of approximately $100. Employer "sponsorship" is not required. The TN-1 is pretty simple; an engineer gets a job offer, goes to the border, applies for a TN-1 visa, pays the fee, and the border guard stamps it. Good for 3 years of work with the named employer. Changing jobs is easy; you just return to the border with your new offer letter, and get a replacement. Its not like the H-1B visa at all.

[GonePostal]

There are no "legal costs" to hire a Canadian citizen engineer in the United States, other than the TN-1 fee of approximately $100. Employer "sponsorship" is not required. The TN-1 is pretty simple; an engineer gets a job offer, goes to the border, applies for a TN-1 visa, pays the fee, and the border guard stamps it. Good for 3 years of work with the named employer. Changing jobs is easy; you just return to the border with your new offer letter, and get a replacement. Its not like the H-1B visa at all.

Have you ever been through the process? And when did you go through the process.

There is alot more then your "offer letter" required as documentation. Many times the "offer letter" that you present to the border isn't the contract you sign for your actual employment. This smells of someone talking out of their ***** .

[Mark77]

There is alot more then your "offer letter" required as documentation.


From an employer, all that is required is a properly constituted offer letter. I've seen the packages friends of mine have used. The employer doesn't have to spend money on doing a LCA, an internal job posting, a public job advertisement, or the other processes that are more traditionally associated with the H-1B visa. Nor does the employer have to pay the H-1B processing fee which is a few thousand dollars last I heard.

Other requirements are described here:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1274.html#6





Many times the "offer letter" that you present to the border isn't the contract you sign for your actual employment. This smells of someone talking out of their ***** .

No you're the dude talking out of your ***** , so nice, but as usual, a failed attempt at a troll.

[GonePostal]

From an employer, all that is required is a properly constituted offer letter. I've seen the packages friends of mine have used. The employer doesn't have to spend money on doing a LCA, an internal job posting, a public job advertisement, or the other processes that are more traditionally associated with the H-1B visa. Nor does the employer have to pay the H-1B processing fee which is a few thousand dollars last I heard.
Who cares what the EMPLOYER has to provide. We are talking specifically what an APPLICANT has to provide at the border for a TN visa application. Your assertion that you only have to provide a offer letter to be approved is blatantly wrong.



No you're the dude talking out of your ***** , so nice, but as usual, a failed attempt at a troll.

It is not a troll. I and many of my friends have been through the TN application process. Both when it was originally a 1 year visa and after it was adjusted to a 3 year visa. Just the fact that you don't know the offer letter in the package isn't the one that you sign as the actual employment agreement, demonstrates your lack of knowledge in this area. There is a list of approved job titles, and RARELY (if ever) does your job title match EXACTLY the approved list. Also your job description has to align with approved work as laid out by NAFTA.

In addition you also have to provide proof that you have one of the approved NAFTA occupation credentials. I have seen people required to bring their diploma to the border to prove that they have the proper credentials.

This is the biggest problem with you. You refuse to acknowledge that you don't know everything. And because of this you post so much misinformation it's shocking. Then poor unfortunate people read your posts and because of the sheer volume believe you.

But I'm guessing you are just going to reply to this with one of your strawmen arguments. Because you know... you never are wrong or lack knowledge.

[Mark77]

Who cares what the EMPLOYER has to provide.


Who cares??? Many employers avoid hiring people that need employer sponsorship because it costs them $$$ in legal fees, costs they wouldn't incur with local (ie: citizen) applicants. This is a *big* deal to employers. The cost of going through an immigration law firm to do a H-1B visa, can come out to being $10,000, requires months of waiting, and is subject to the H-1B cap. That's a *lot* of money to invest on an employee that might not even survive the probation period, and might not even be able to obtain the visa anyways!

A lot of employers who aren't familiar with hiring Canadians might just automatically assume that they need to get the employee a H-1B visa. Correcting this misperception can help a Canadian at least have their resume considered.

While experienced HR personnel and immigration counsel may know all about the TN-1 visa, relatively few front-line HR personnel are familiar with it. I've dealt with a number of recruiters in the US, and have been almost hung up on a number of times until I spent 2-5 minutes explaining to them that, as a Canadian engineer, I do not require a hard to obtain, expensive H-1B visa.



We are talking specifically what an APPLICANT has to provide at the border for a TN visa application. Your assertion that you only have to provide a offer letter to be approved is blatantly wrong.


Just to be clear, my assertion was, and remains, the only documentation the *employer* needs to generate is a properly constituted offer of employment.

The applicant is, of course, responsible for providing other documentation that proves eligibility, such as, but not limited to, copies of degrees.

Most of the problems arise when an individual works in categories that are subject to a lot of interpretation, or have qualifications that are not covered by a nice degree/certificate. For instance, one friend of mine was a "Sales Engineer" with no engineering degree (heck, she was even a high school dropout!). Her TN-1 application had to be very carefully crafted to substantiate a background in "Sales Engineering" gained through experience, while an engineering grad could get away with simply a copy of their degree and a copy of their PEO registration. Every time she had to get her TN-1 renewed, she was paranoid for a month because her application was very flimsy. Real, iron-ringed, Canadian engineers do not have to worry about this.




It is not a troll. I and many of my friends have been through the TN application process. Both when it was originally a 1 year visa and after it was adjusted to a 3 year visa. Just the fact that you don't know the offer letter in the package isn't the one that you sign as the actual employment agreement, demonstrates your lack of knowledge in this area.


Sounds like some hanky-panky if you're presenting a different offer letter to the USCIS than the one you actually signed with your employer. As the USCIS website says, the requirements are fairly clear. If you're presenting an offer letter of employment that is fundamentally different than the actual contract executed, then you are making a false statement to the USCIS.




This is the biggest problem with you. You refuse to acknowledge that you don't know everything. And because of this you post so much misinformation it's shocking. Then poor unfortunate people read your posts and because of the sheer volume believe you.


I have never spread misinformation, but again, nice try at the trolling dude. If you want to get more specific and technical, by all means, contribute your knowledge. But just calling me names or spreading crap just makes you look bad.



But I'm guessing you are just going to reply to this with one of your strawmen arguments. Because you know... you never are wrong or lack knowledge.

Looks like you beat me to it. In your usual form.

[GonePostal]

Who cares??? Many employers avoid hiring people that need employer sponsorship because it costs them $$$ in legal fees, costs they wouldn't incur with local (ie: citizen) applicants. This is a *big* deal to employers. The cost of going through an immigration law firm to do a H-1B visa, can come out to being $10,000, requires months of waiting, and is subject to the H-1B cap. That's a *lot* of money to invest on an employee that might not even survive the probation period, and might not even be able to obtain the visa anyways!

A lot of employers who aren't familiar with hiring Canadians might just automatically assume that they need to get the employee a H-1B visa. Correcting this misperception can help a Canadian at least have their resume considered.

While experienced HR personnel and immigration counsel may know all about the TN-1 visa, relatively few front-line HR personnel are familiar with it. I've dealt with a number of recruiters in the US, and have been almost hung up on a number of times until I spent 2-5 minutes explaining to them that, as a Canadian engineer, I do not require a hard to obtain, expensive H-1B visa.



Just to be clear, my assertion was, and remains, the only documentation the *employer* needs to generate is a properly constituted offer of employment.

The applicant is, of course, responsible for providing other documentation that proves eligibility, such as, but not limited to, copies of degrees.


Thank you for quoting me out of context then to go on with your straw man argument.

Your "assertion" is illogical. Regardless of if the employer is hiring someone applying for TN or natural citizen, they are required to provide you offer of employment. So it makes no sense to say that was what you were asserting. You are just back pedaling.

Let me quote you to be clear that your original assertion was actually not in fact referencing to what the employer had to provide.


The TN-1 is pretty simple; an engineer gets a job offer, goes to the border, applies for a TN-1 visa, pays the fee, and the border guard stamps it. Good for 3 years of work with the named employer. Changing jobs is easy; you just return to the border with your new offer letter, and get a replacement. Its not like the H-1B visa at all.

And of course here come the excuses or additional irrelevant text. You made it sound like it was a stroll in the park and you only need the offer letter. Which is plain wrong.




Sounds like some hanky-panky if you're presenting a different offer letter to the USCIS than the one you actually signed with your employer. As the USCIS website says, the requirements are fairly clear. If you're presenting an offer letter of employment that is fundamentally different than the actual contract executed, then you are making a false statement to the USCIS.

This is how it is done for virtually every large employer in the states. Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Texas Instruments, Qualcomm are just to name a few that follow this practice. You are not falsifying documents. What you are doing is tailoring the letter as to streamline the process. Each company has their own internal titling system and that is what is written on your real offer letter. If you bring this to the border your title will not match up with what is on the approved list. Even though for all intents and purposes they are equivalent. Again this just shows how much smoke you are blowing.
This process has more to do with bureaucracy then actual merit. Anyone that has been through the process knows this. As you avoid the question, I can only assume you have never been through the process. But you sure do speak about it as if you were an expert.

[pltz77]

Electrical Engineering market doing well in CA? You're on crack.

Most of the entry-level and even mid-career EE positions with Broadcom that I see on LinkedIn attract 300+ applicants. So good luck getting noticed amidst the sheer numbers. Silicon Valley is all about software and software skills these days (particularly in the social media space), not 'hardware' EE-type skillsets.

LOL

Are you in CA? Do you have an engineering job in CA? Yeah I am on crack.....
Speaking of Broadcom, let me know if you want an interview. I just got my friend an interview at Broadcom two weeks ago, I'll get you bypass through all the HR BS so you can go straight to at least a phone interview. If you don't get an on-site interview you can stop making excuses about how everyone is going against you.

[Mark77]

Thank you for quoting me out of context then to go on with your straw man argument.

Not a straw man argument, or even an argument at all, but again, nice try at the trolling. Hopefully the OP will just see right through it all, and find out the facts for him/herself with the guidance in that URL I posted.

My point still stands -- the TN-1 visa is trivial to obtain, or transfer employers with, if an individual is a Canadian citizen engineer. And comes with virtually no cost or up-front risk to the employer. Quite unlike some other types of visas. This can be a selling point, and is important to know when dealing with a US firm.

I don't know why you persist at pouncing on me with very poorly founded replies, rather than to actually contribute to the body of knowledge in the thread. Its really distracting and quite frankly reflects very poorly upon you.

[GonePostal]

Not a straw man argument, or even an argument at all, but again, nice try at the trolling. Hopefully the OP will just see right through it all, and find out the facts for him/herself with the guidance in that URL I posted.

My point still stands -- the TN-1 visa is trivial to obtain, or transfer employers with, if an individual is a Canadian citizen engineer. And comes with virtually no cost or up-front risk to the employer. Quite unlike some other types of visas. This can be a selling point, and is important to know when dealing with a US firm.

I don't know why you persist at pouncing on me with very poorly founded replies, rather than to actually contribute to the body of knowledge in the thread. Its really distracting and quite frankly reflects very poorly upon you.

This is the problem. In the real world you can't just read a link and assume you know everything. As in many parts of life, what is written in a book is only a portion of how it is really applied in real life. That link is not sufficient when dealing with something like a TN visa application. Again you avoid the question of "Have you ever applied for a TN visa". This is because all your "knowledge" for better or worse is from theory not practice.

TN visa is very easy to obtain ONCE you know exactly what to do. For example if you are going to the US for software development, if you acknowledge that you are going to be "programming" for a significant portion of your job. Most likely you are going to be denied the visa at the border. As "programmer" is not on the approved list of of occupations. But instead if you say that you will be doing software engineering, architecting software, design patterns, etc... you will be fine. These are the things you are missing and don't even know it. You continue to be blinded by your ignorance.

The people at the border are not and cannot be trained well enough to interpret arbitrary documentation and determine if they are NAFTA approved occupations. Instead they operate on a set of rules and procedures. As long as you satisfy this set of rules/procedures then you will be approved.

You are the only one not providing any meaningful value to this conversation. Your information is incomplete at best and plain wrong at worst. You can not just stroll to the border with only your "offer letter" and be approved for a TN visa.

[pltz77]

Looks like we have a complete troll on our hands.

A complete troll or a competing troll? I'll accept the latter.....Cheers

[hestati]

Thanks for the info guys. I can probably get transferred within my firm first, but I got to let them know that I do not need HB-1. Then with US experience it should be easier to escape aerospace industry and go somewhere else where there is at least some money.

[pltz77]

Thanks for the info guys. I can probably get transferred within my firm first, but I got to let them know that I do not need HB-1. Then with US experience it should be easier to escape aerospace industry and go somewhere else where there is at least some money.

If you do an internal transfer you can apply for L1 visa/status which is valid for 7 year (I think). Also, from L1 you can apply for a green card directly. Good luck!

[tylaw83]

I actually have to agree with Mark77 here. There's not much cost or documentation required to get a TN1 if you're in one of the approved professions.

It's $50 at the border & usually an official letter from the U.S. employer explaining that they need you and you're employed with them (doesn't even have to be the signed employment contract or offer letter) + the original copy of your degree and proof of credentials.