How for an IT specialist to immigrate to the USA: all about the available options
Programmers, designers, developers — IT has long stood out as an independent field of activity, and thousands of people belong to it. Many of them have already become specialists of international level, who are cramped in their native city, and even in their native country.
There is only one way out — to immigrate and develop abroad. But where to fly? The United States can be a great option for a talented IT employee: there are a lot of companies that are ready to hire a professional, and there are also all the conditions for living in peace with your family.
How to move to America, which way to choose? There are several options
H1-B and EB-3 work visas
- Work visa H-1B
This is the most popular option for anyone who wants to come to the United States specifically for work. However, it is difficult to call it accessible to the majority: such a visa can only be obtained by those who work in a field that requires a bachelor’s degree or unique training.
IT certainly belongs to such areas, even if many will say that they learned to program or develop design from scratch, without having a specialized education. An appropriate diploma is a huge plus in your piggy bank.
In addition, the candidate may pass according to another criterion, the main thing is that you have unique skills. Here are just some of the visa requirements:
- availability of a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree;
- unique on-the-job training – regular professional or professional development;
- rare qualities that will allow you to work in government positions.
Deadlines and important details
The H-1B visa is issued for three years, and then it can be extended for a maximum of six years. After that, it is already worth considering changing your immigration status to another worker, which will allow you to get a green card.
Important:
you can’t just take this visa and come to the United States — the opportunity to apply for it is played in the lottery. You can win it — and if not, you’ll have to wait until next year.
- EB-3 immigrant visa
This is a visa for skilled workers, professionals and ordinary workers. The difference between these categories is as follows:
- A qualified worker is engaged in a non-seasonal activity and has at least two years of work experience, training or education under their belt. Performs a job for which there are no suitable people in the United States;
- The professional holds a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and can prove that he or she is indeed a member of a particular profession. Performs a job for which there are no suitable people in the United States;
- An unskilled (ordinary) worker is also engaged in a non-temporary activity, but owns a profession that requires less than two years of training.
The peculiarity of this visa is that by applying for it, you are already applying for a US green card and you can move your family there. After five years, you have the opportunity to apply for citizenship.
Deadlines and important details
The main thing to remember when trying to get an EB-3 visa is that regardless of the category, you will need a request from the employer. Without a guaranteed job, it’s not worth even trying, you can’t come to the void and start looking already in the USA.
Visas for people with extraordinary abilities and achievements O-1 and EB-1
- O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa
It is this visa that has recently been considered as a worthy alternative to H-1B. It is intended for anyone who has distinguished themselves in the fields of science, art, education, business or sports. Even 5 years ago, many would have argued whether IT should be included in these areas, but now everything is clear: technologies are changing our reality and have a huge impact on it.
The main difficulty here is that evidence is needed. An outstanding scientist can attach certificates confirming that he has become a laureate of any award. Musician or artist — show copies of materials about their exhibitions or concerts. What should an IT specialist do?
You just need to prove that your brainchild is unique and, although the achievements are not so obvious, they are worthy of recognition. Therefore, it is necessary:
- a product, software, technology or device that you have developed;
- business created by you on the basis of innovation (instead of the first point or together with it);
- detailed history of your achievements and success;
- Articles in major print media dedicated to you.
Deadlines and important details
The initial period of stay in the United States on an O-1 visa is three years, then it can be extended for another year. You can also apply for a green card and after becoming its proud owner, stay in America forever. In addition, on an O-3 visa, you can bring your family to the United States. One has only to remember that it is forbidden to work on it.
- Visa for people with extraordinary abilities EB-1
This visa is issued:
- owners of extraordinary abilities;
- outstanding professors and researchers;
- international managers and executives.
If you are an IT specialist, you should pay attention to the first category — but only if you really create unique products that have no analogues on the market yet.
You will need to collect a lot of evidence — the more the better. Among them may be the following:
- all articles about you, your work and achievements;
- publications in various media, even blog posts;
- if you received a grant or funding for your project, written evidence that you were awarded this amount;
- letters of recommendation from well-known experts in your field;
- Evidence that you managed all the technical operations in the company or implemented the development necessary for business processes.
Deadlines and important details
People who apply for an EB-1 visa as representatives of the first category can apply themselves and do not wait for an invitation from the employer. Therefore, you can act immediately.
The advantage of this visa is that you can apply for a green card upon arrival, and five years after its issuance, for American citizenship.
NIW: National Interest Waiver
You can easily apply for an EB-2 visa if you prove that your work will have a positive impact on the US economy and you can act in the interests of the States.
To do this, you need to get NIW. Can apply for this status:
- specialist in a profession that requires higher education (master’s degree or higher);
- a person who has exceptional ability in his field.
Of course, just like that, no one will believe that you are a worthy candidate for such a status. You will have to be as convincing as possible and collect all possible evidence.
What needs to be proven:
- your projects have some value for the US as a whole or for a particular state if you want to develop activities there;
- now you are in a good position and can afford to be involved in the project and invest in it;
- It is advantageous for the US to exempt you from a labor certificate and not require a US employer.
Deadlines and important details
This status will give you the opportunity to quickly join the ranks of applicants for a green card, and then those who want to become citizens of the United States. You don’t even have to wait for permission to file documents from the Department of Labor — you just move and decide your own destiny.
However, unfortunately, this process, unlike all others, cannot be accelerated in any way. Therefore, you will have to be patient.
L-1 Nonimmigrant Visa
ЕIf you want to develop an IT company in America and have already opened a branch there, this visa is ideal for you. Of course, this requires that the subsidiary or parent company of the business be in another country.
The visa is suitable for qualified specialists, without whom it will hardly be possible to develop an American branch at the proper level.
The candidate must meet the following requirements:
- you are a key employee of the company in your country or hold a managerial position;
- you have worked for the company for at least a year;
- your workplace even when moving to the USA will be left behind you;
- The American branch has also prepared a place for you.
Of course, it is important that both branches are active and profitable. It is not enough to open an empty company and think that the Immigration Service will allow such a trick. The US department must have at least five employees.
Deadlines and important details
The most difficult thing in obtaining this visa is to wait for the approval of the application, since the company also has to prepare papers that it needs an employee. This moment sometimes has to wait a very long time.
But with the help of a competent specialist, this non-immigrant status can be changed to immigration and settled in the United States — a huge plus.
How to start preparing for the move?
By contacting an immigration lawyer. Few build a case without mistakes on the first try, and every miss is a delay in receiving the priceless American visas. Therefore, we recommend that you sign up for a consultation with a professional who will accompany you until you obtain the desired document.
