What is the easiest way to move to New York from the UK? [closed]

Question

I am a UK citizen and I want to emigrate to New York. My grandma is a US citizen but is currently living in the UK. I'm not sure if that helps. And I work as a web developer which is supposedly a job which is wanted in the US so I could get a H1B visa. If that is the case then how do I go about finding an employer willing to employ me?

Answer 1

H1B Visa Caps

A few thoughts... The US has a FY2014 H1B Visa Cap, which may make it challenging for you to get something soon. There are exceptions to that cap though...

The H-1B visa has an annual numerical limit "cap" of 65,000 visas each fiscal year. The first 20,000 petitions filed on behalf of beneficiaries with a U.S. master’s degree or higher are exempt from the cap. Additionally, H-1B workers who are petitioned for or employed at an institution of higher education or its affiliated or related nonprofit entities or a nonprofit research organization, or a government research organization are not subject to this numerical cap.

Filing for FY2015 H1B visas starts on 1 Apr 2014 (terrible choice for the date, IMHO ☺); and the first start date for FY2015 H1B employment is October 1, 2014.

Strategy

I think your best shot at getting a job in the US is sharing your resume with some US-based headhunters, and ask them to focus on:

• Companies willing to sponsor an H1B for their web developer position (these would be subject to the H1B visa cap)
• Universities (not subject to the cap)
• Government / Non-profit research corporations (not subject to the cap)

Just be aware that headhunters sometimes don't have your best interests in mind; although they will always say that they do. The reality is they have mouths to feed, and they are paid when they fill job requisitions. YMMV... feet first, etc...

H1B Alternative

Apply to be a university grad student in the US, and work part-time until you find something full-time (after your school is finished).