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Posted

Hello fellow VJs!

Im a CPA here in PI, and I have more than 3 yrs auditing experience. Do I have a chance/opportunity to work in the US (California) in the accounting field?

Thank you. :)

I-130 for mother

06/25/16 - Sent petition to USCIS

07/02/16 - Received email and text that I-130 was received

07/05/15 - Checked cleared in the bank



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Posted

Hello fellow VJs!

Im a CPA here in PI, and I have more than 3 yrs auditing experience. Do I have a chance/opportunity to work in the US (California) in the accounting field?

Thank you. :)

Your best bet would be to work for one of the Big 4 (EY, Deloitte, KPMG or PwC) and then request a rotation to the US. I know that in California they are always expanding the Accounting field, but keep in mind that when there is an economic downfall - professional services firms are the first to layoff people. I know from personal experience that in '09 they downsized the KPMG office in Silicon Valley and SF by about 25% which is A LOT. I can imagine it was the same with other Big 4.

And since you will be on rotation - this means you will be one of the first to go. Not trying to discourage you, but definitely something to keep in mind!

If you can't get into the Big 4 you can also try smaller accounting firms like Grant Thorton etc. of course if they exist in your area.

But shoot for the highest because the goos thing with the Big 4 is their global network of people and rotation program.

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
Posted

Your best bet would be to work for one of the Big 4 (EY, Deloitte, KPMG or PwC) and then request a rotation to the US. I know that in California they are always expanding the Accounting field, but keep in mind that when there is an economic downfall - professional services firms are the first to layoff people. I know from personal experience that in '09 they downsized the KPMG office in Silicon Valley and SF by about 25% which is A LOT. I can imagine it was the same with other Big 4.

And since you will be on rotation - this means you will be one of the first to go. Not trying to discourage you, but definitely something to keep in mind!

If you can't get into the Big 4 you can also try smaller accounting firms like Grant Thorton etc. of course if they exist in your area.

But shoot for the highest because the goos thing with the Big 4 is their global network of people and rotation program.

Correct me if i'm wrong...but i think CPAs from Philippines cannot practice their profession in US. They can work in the accounting or finance field but not as CPAs. They should be a US licensed accountant to practice.

Filed: K-3 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
Posted

Why not study and pass the US CPA exams first? I already did. It will be hard work and cost a lot of money but will be worth it. If you are interested, google California Board of Accountancy.

05/18/07 married

05/29/07 sent I-130s for me & my daughter at CSC

06/16/07 checks for I-130 cashed

06/19/07 sent I-129F not waiting for noa1 but with printed online copies of checks cashed

06/25/07 check for I-129f cashed

06/29/07 transferred I-129f to CSC

07/03/07 received noa1 in the mail for I-129f

10/31/07 approved K3 and my I-130 except for my daughter

11/05/07 received NOA2 in the mail

12/01/07 received mail from NVC/yey we got our case number

12/20/07 went to St. Lukes and had my early medical exam

01/30/08 schedule for medical

02/07/08 interview, approved!

02/12/08 visa pick-up/cfo

02/14/08 POE-LAX

06/19/08 AOS mailed thru USPS

06/22/08 AOS delivered to Chicago IL

06/28/08 check cashed

06/30/08 received NOA1 dated 06/25/08

07/26/08 biometrics appointment

09/09/08 received EAD card in the mail

12/03/08 received interview letter for Jan 21 2009

01/21/09 approved for conditional permanent residence

02/02/09 permanent residence card arrived in the mail

10/21/10 submit form to remove conditions

01/21/11 10 year gc received

03/05/12 mailed my N-400

03/06/12 received email that they have my N-400

04/05/12 biometrics

Posted (edited)

Why not study and pass the US CPA exams first? I already did. It will be hard work and cost a lot of money but will be worth it. If you are interested, google California Board of Accountancy.

Yes Im planning to take one. But while studying, I would like to work too. Nice to know there is someone from PI who tooked and passed the US CPA exams. :)

How long did you study and review for the board? Do I need to take additional accounting courses for me to take the exam?

Edited by simplynice12

I-130 for mother

06/25/16 - Sent petition to USCIS

07/02/16 - Received email and text that I-130 was received

07/05/15 - Checked cleared in the bank



event.png

Posted

Correct me if i'm wrong...but i think CPAs from Philippines cannot practice their profession in US. They can work in the accounting or finance field but not as CPAs. They should be a US licensed accountant to practice.

Hi maria! Yes we cannot work as CPAs in the US unless we take the US board exam.

I-130 for mother

06/25/16 - Sent petition to USCIS

07/02/16 - Received email and text that I-130 was received

07/05/15 - Checked cleared in the bank



event.png

Filed: K-3 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
Posted (edited)

Yes Im planning to take one. But while studying, I would like to work too. Nice to know there is someone from PI who tooked and passed the US CPA exams. :)

How long did you study and review for the board? Do I need to take additional accounting courses for me to take the exam?

No, our accounting units are enough to qualify to take the CPA exams. Just have it evaluated. The list of companies that can evaluate your transcript and diploma is in the website of California Board of Accountancy. Look for the "new applicants" section. The exams are divided into 4 sections. I studied for almost 2 years and have to pass the other sections within 18 months when I passed the first section or else my score gets forfeited. It took me that long because I have a newborn at that time. If you don't have a job right now you should study and take the exams first so you will not have so much stressed studying, working and having a relationship with your family here in the US at the same time. You might want to start looking into it now because I think the they will increase the required units by 2014. By then you might have to take additional accounting classes.

Edited by raquel_1208

05/18/07 married

05/29/07 sent I-130s for me & my daughter at CSC

06/16/07 checks for I-130 cashed

06/19/07 sent I-129F not waiting for noa1 but with printed online copies of checks cashed

06/25/07 check for I-129f cashed

06/29/07 transferred I-129f to CSC

07/03/07 received noa1 in the mail for I-129f

10/31/07 approved K3 and my I-130 except for my daughter

11/05/07 received NOA2 in the mail

12/01/07 received mail from NVC/yey we got our case number

12/20/07 went to St. Lukes and had my early medical exam

01/30/08 schedule for medical

02/07/08 interview, approved!

02/12/08 visa pick-up/cfo

02/14/08 POE-LAX

06/19/08 AOS mailed thru USPS

06/22/08 AOS delivered to Chicago IL

06/28/08 check cashed

06/30/08 received NOA1 dated 06/25/08

07/26/08 biometrics appointment

09/09/08 received EAD card in the mail

12/03/08 received interview letter for Jan 21 2009

01/21/09 approved for conditional permanent residence

02/02/09 permanent residence card arrived in the mail

10/21/10 submit form to remove conditions

01/21/11 10 year gc received

03/05/12 mailed my N-400

03/06/12 received email that they have my N-400

04/05/12 biometrics

Posted

No, our accounting units are enough to qualify to take the CPA exams. Just have it evaluated. The list of companies that can evaluate your transcript and diploma is in the website of California Board of Accountancy. Look for the "new applicants" section. The exams are divided into 4 sections. I studied for almost 2 years and have to pass the other sections within 18 months when I passed the first section or else my score gets forfeited. It took me that long because I have a newborn at that time. If you don't have a job right now you should study and take the exams first so you will not have so much stressed studying, working and having a relationship with your family here in the US at the same time. You might want to start looking into it now because I think the they will increase the required units by 2014. By then you might have to take additional accounting classes.

Great advice. :)

I thought I need to take additional classes. Hmm I'll think about focusing on the US board exam first before working. Is it okay if I ask you a few more questions when I get to US? Im still here in PI, finishing some audit work. I'll also check the California Board of Accountancy.

Thank you thank you. Im really glad you answered my inquiries here. :)

I-130 for mother

06/25/16 - Sent petition to USCIS

07/02/16 - Received email and text that I-130 was received

07/05/15 - Checked cleared in the bank



event.png

Filed: K-3 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
Posted

Sure, I will be glad to answer your questions. You are the 3rd person who contacted me here in VJ about studying and passing the US CPA exams. The other two are currently doing self-review and bought same review materials that I have used.

05/18/07 married

05/29/07 sent I-130s for me & my daughter at CSC

06/16/07 checks for I-130 cashed

06/19/07 sent I-129F not waiting for noa1 but with printed online copies of checks cashed

06/25/07 check for I-129f cashed

06/29/07 transferred I-129f to CSC

07/03/07 received noa1 in the mail for I-129f

10/31/07 approved K3 and my I-130 except for my daughter

11/05/07 received NOA2 in the mail

12/01/07 received mail from NVC/yey we got our case number

12/20/07 went to St. Lukes and had my early medical exam

01/30/08 schedule for medical

02/07/08 interview, approved!

02/12/08 visa pick-up/cfo

02/14/08 POE-LAX

06/19/08 AOS mailed thru USPS

06/22/08 AOS delivered to Chicago IL

06/28/08 check cashed

06/30/08 received NOA1 dated 06/25/08

07/26/08 biometrics appointment

09/09/08 received EAD card in the mail

12/03/08 received interview letter for Jan 21 2009

01/21/09 approved for conditional permanent residence

02/02/09 permanent residence card arrived in the mail

10/21/10 submit form to remove conditions

01/21/11 10 year gc received

03/05/12 mailed my N-400

03/06/12 received email that they have my N-400

04/05/12 biometrics

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
Posted

No, our accounting units are enough to qualify to take the CPA exams. Just have it evaluated. The list of companies that can evaluate your transcript and diploma is in the website of California Board of Accountancy. Look for the "new applicants" section. The exams are divided into 4 sections. I studied for almost 2 years and have to pass the other sections within 18 months when I passed the first section or else my score gets forfeited. It took me that long because I have a newborn at that time. If you don't have a job right now you should study and take the exams first so you will not have so much stressed studying, working and having a relationship with your family here in the US at the same time. You might want to start looking into it now because I think the they will increase the required units by 2014. By then you might have to take additional accounting classes.

Do you think I still need additional units? I graduated in Accountancy in 1996. Been a long time :) I have a bestfriend who lives in Canada and she told me the CPA exams there are similar to that of US. She said it's easier compared to our CPA here because they only cover certain specialized field. Unlike here where it covers all from Taxation, Law, etc. She took one specialized in Auditing and she failed. So she took another one specialized in Management Accounting and she passed. She's a CMA in Canada now. Do they have the same there in US? Thank you.

Filed: K-3 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
Posted

Do you think I still need additional units? I graduated in Accountancy in 1996. Been a long time :) I have a bestfriend who lives in Canada and she told me the CPA exams there are similar to that of US. She said it's easier compared to our CPA here because they only cover certain specialized field. Unlike here where it covers all from Taxation, Law, etc. She took one specialized in Auditing and she failed. So she took another one specialized in Management Accounting and she passed. She's a CMA in Canada now. Do they have the same there in US? Thank you.

We graduated the same year. No you don't need additional classes. The 4 sections of CPA exams are Financial Accounting and Reporting(FAR), Auditing(AUD), Business Environment Concepts(BEC) and Regulation(REG).

FAR-same as our financial accounting except for government and non-profit accounting

AUD-same as our auditing theory with ethics

BEC-composed of subjects such as economics, financial management, cost accounting, information technology..etc.

REG-federal taxation(individual,partnership & corporation), ethics related to taxation & business law(contracts, sales contracts, agency, insurance, etc.)

The only good thing about the US CPA exam here is you can take one section at a time. You should visit www.cpanet.forum for more information that will guide any US CPA candidate.

05/18/07 married

05/29/07 sent I-130s for me & my daughter at CSC

06/16/07 checks for I-130 cashed

06/19/07 sent I-129F not waiting for noa1 but with printed online copies of checks cashed

06/25/07 check for I-129f cashed

06/29/07 transferred I-129f to CSC

07/03/07 received noa1 in the mail for I-129f

10/31/07 approved K3 and my I-130 except for my daughter

11/05/07 received NOA2 in the mail

12/01/07 received mail from NVC/yey we got our case number

12/20/07 went to St. Lukes and had my early medical exam

01/30/08 schedule for medical

02/07/08 interview, approved!

02/12/08 visa pick-up/cfo

02/14/08 POE-LAX

06/19/08 AOS mailed thru USPS

06/22/08 AOS delivered to Chicago IL

06/28/08 check cashed

06/30/08 received NOA1 dated 06/25/08

07/26/08 biometrics appointment

09/09/08 received EAD card in the mail

12/03/08 received interview letter for Jan 21 2009

01/21/09 approved for conditional permanent residence

02/02/09 permanent residence card arrived in the mail

10/21/10 submit form to remove conditions

01/21/11 10 year gc received

03/05/12 mailed my N-400

03/06/12 received email that they have my N-400

04/05/12 biometrics

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
Posted

We graduated the same year. No you don't need additional classes. The 4 sections of CPA exams are Financial Accounting and Reporting(FAR), Auditing(AUD), Business Environment Concepts(BEC) and Regulation(REG).

FAR-same as our financial accounting except for government and non-profit accounting

AUD-same as our auditing theory with ethics

BEC-composed of subjects such as economics, financial management, cost accounting, information technology..etc.

REG-federal taxation(individual,partnership & corporation), ethics related to taxation & business law(contracts, sales contracts, agency, insurance, etc.)

The only good thing about the US CPA exam here is you can take one section at a time. You should visit www.cpanet.forum for more information that will guide any US CPA candidate.

Thank you so much for the information. Just want to know your opinion...which is better to easily find a good job in US...being a CPA or have Masters Degree? Been wanting to choose between the two. Thanks again.

Filed: K-3 Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline
Posted

Thank you so much for the information. Just want to know your opinion...which is better to easily find a good job in US...being a CPA or have Masters Degree? Been wanting to choose between the two. Thanks again.

Did you finish or planning to take your Masters Degree here in the US? Based on my experience and from the information I read on cpa forums about job hunting, our work experience and education in the Philippines basically does not have any value in applying for a job here. One you pass your CPA exams, that has still no value unless you work on your license by getting a work experience under a US Certified Public Accountant for a required number of hours which is like a year or so. Your CPA supervisor needs to sign a letter about the hours you work for proof and that is the document you will need to submit to the California Board of Accountancy in order to get the license, at least that is what I know here in California. And I forgot about the ethics exam, this is usually done after passing the CPA exams and before getting the license. Other states have different requirements. So if you are going to apply in a different state, I do not have accurate information on that and you just have to google them.

Back to your Masters Degree question, before I took the CPA exams I was also thinking the same thing. But considering how much is the cost of Masters Degree here in the US which is basically a lot of money ($20k-50k depending on the school) I went to the CPA exam route. If money is not problem, then US Masters Degree, CPA license and a few years of work experience will give you an opportunity in finding a non-entry level job.

The reason I took the exam is that I got tired of doing clerical/data entry job(usually the entry level job for filipino accountants who just immigrated here in the US with no US work experience). Blame it on the present economy, most people who passed the CPA exams still have a problem looking for a job and in order to pay the bills or student loans some of them will just take a job which they are overqualified for and not mention that they have CPA certification or license. Right now, it does not really matter to me about not having a full time job because my kids are my priority. If I am living in the Philippines, I could just leave them to my mom and concentrate on my career and not have issue with it. The culture is different here and if you have kids and really care about how they are going to grow up, then your time as a parent will be so important in their growing years. The reason I moved to US is to be with my husband and raise a family, not to earn more money even though I was used to working my #### off in the Philippines since I finished college.

Whatever route you are going to take research on it thoroughly, good luck.

05/18/07 married

05/29/07 sent I-130s for me & my daughter at CSC

06/16/07 checks for I-130 cashed

06/19/07 sent I-129F not waiting for noa1 but with printed online copies of checks cashed

06/25/07 check for I-129f cashed

06/29/07 transferred I-129f to CSC

07/03/07 received noa1 in the mail for I-129f

10/31/07 approved K3 and my I-130 except for my daughter

11/05/07 received NOA2 in the mail

12/01/07 received mail from NVC/yey we got our case number

12/20/07 went to St. Lukes and had my early medical exam

01/30/08 schedule for medical

02/07/08 interview, approved!

02/12/08 visa pick-up/cfo

02/14/08 POE-LAX

06/19/08 AOS mailed thru USPS

06/22/08 AOS delivered to Chicago IL

06/28/08 check cashed

06/30/08 received NOA1 dated 06/25/08

07/26/08 biometrics appointment

09/09/08 received EAD card in the mail

12/03/08 received interview letter for Jan 21 2009

01/21/09 approved for conditional permanent residence

02/02/09 permanent residence card arrived in the mail

10/21/10 submit form to remove conditions

01/21/11 10 year gc received

03/05/12 mailed my N-400

03/06/12 received email that they have my N-400

04/05/12 biometrics

Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted

Yes Im planning to take one. But while studying, I would like to work too. Nice to know there is someone from PI who tooked and passed the US CPA exams. :)

How long did you study and review for the board? Do I need to take additional accounting courses for me to take the exam?

I did it. It is not that difficult. It worth the time/money.

I-130:

05/26/07: Mailed USPS; 05/31/07: Priority Date established
09/13/07: Received NOA1 (PD 5/31, RD 5/31, ND 9/10, PM 9/11)
11/15/07: Case Approved
11/20/07: Received NOA2 by mail (PD 5/31, RD 6/9, ND 11/15, PM 11/19)

I-129F:
06/27/07: Mailed USPS; 07/09/07: Received NOA1 (PD N/A, RD 7/2, ND 7/6, PM 7/6)
11/20/07: Received NOA2 by mail (PD N/A, RD 7/6, ND 11/15, PM 11/19)
12/10/07: NVC Received case (12/24/07: Received Packet 3 in the mail)
01/02/08: Email from consulate. Interview scheduled on 01/23. Interview letter in the mail.
01/23/08: Interview in Vancouver Approved
01/24/08: K-3 Visa granted

I-485/I-765 (AOS/EAD):
02/22/08: Mailed USPS; 03/03/08: Received both I-797C NOAs by mail (RD 2/24, ND 2/29, PM 2/29)
03/19/08: Biometrics
05/07/08: EAD card received
07/28/08: Interview Notice Received. (ND 7/23)
09/29/08: Interview - Approved Class CR6

10/18/08: Received welcome letter; 10/23/08: Received Conditional Permanent Resident Card (PM 10/21)

I-751 (Remove Condition)

07/01/10: Mailed USPS
07/16/10: Received I-797C NOA by mail (RD 7/12)
07/29/10: Biometrics Appt Scheduled for 08/19/10 (ND 7/26)

09/16/10: Condition lifted and Permanent Resident Card Printed

09/25/10: Permanent Resident Card received

N-400 (Citizenship):
03/03/14: Mailed USPS
03/15/14: Received I-797C NOA by mail (PD 3/6, RD 3/06, ND 3/10)
03/17/14: Biometrics Appt Scheduled for 03/27/14 (ND 3/13)

04/03/14: Placed inline for interview scheduling

06/04/14: Interview Notice Received with Interview scheduled for 7/8. (ND 6/4)

07/08/14: Interview + RFE. Response Mailed 7/12. Website updated on 8/21 that response received. 8/25 Placed in queue for oath.

09/05/14: Oath Ceremony Letter Received (ND 9/2)

09/17/14: Oath Ceremony / Naturalized

PD = Priority Date, RD= Receipt Date, ND = Notice Date, PM = Post Marked

 
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