Possible to get a H-1B?

[Jacob Johansson 0]

Hi. 

 

I hope this is a valid topic here (it's my first post also, so be gentle with me)!

 

Today I am working as a successful project manager at a European company (meaning that we act/own offices in several European countries). It is a consultant business, meaning I have responsibility on some big, international customers. I have a great history of working internationally, I have government work experience, I have great knowledge in project management/leadership, I have been working a lot with bank security/transaction security/fraud, I have great IT-knowledge and so on... 

My point is; I know a lot of things and have been working with a lot of things on some highly reputated companies. I do have a very wide knowledge base and have a lot of experience of working internationally. 

BUT  (and this is my problem) I do only have a secondary/senior high school education, meaning no university certificates. However I have at least two later studies (financed by earlier eployers), such as project management, leadership courses etc.

 

The reason to my lack of studies was that I went though senior high school, learning... nothing; I already knew a vast majority of everything I was supposed to learn there, even before entering that education. Even though I finished senior high school with good grades, to me it felt like a waste of time. And I did not want to spend a lot of time and money on university studies, if the result would be the same (basically that I knew everything since before, and that this would just be a formal procedure of getting a referral from a school on a piece of paper). So I got a job offer while thinking about what to study... that I took, and eventually I became a full time employee at an international company (with American owners). Since then I've changed occupation/employers a couple of times, constantly upgrading my knowledge. This is the way I prefer to learn and do things, and today I know a lot of things that schools cannot teach! 

 

The thing is; I read a lot of different things regarding Work Visas. Somewhere I do read that you need a "unique knowledge that cannot be found within USA". And yes, I do believe I have that. However, on some other places I do read that you need "certain kinds of education certificates" (which I dont have, except for secondary school (gymnasium/senior high school)). 

 

So... am I totally screwed on the matter of getting a Work Visa, or are there chances based upon my work experience and wide knowledge base? I am thinking about starting to look for a job in the US, but if I am totally screwed on the facts of my lack of education certificates, maybe that's a waste of time?

[mrmvkjts 459]

As far as I know(somebody correct me if I’m wrong)

you at least need a bachelor’s degree to even qualify for that type of visa

and also I think you need a company/employer to sponsor you of course

it’s costly for them and hard to obtain due to a lot of different high qualifications!

 

You might have better chances working for an international company that has offices and job openings in the us and do a relocation thru them ( I believe L visa)

 

But with all of this I’m not 100% certain but almost

[Jacob Johansson 0]

4 minutes ago, mrmvkjts said:

As far as I know(somebody correct me if I’m wrong)

you at least need a bachelor’s degree to even qualify for that type of visa

and also I think you need a company/employer to sponsor you of course

it’s costly for them and hard to obtain due to a lot of different high qualifications!

 

You might have better chances working for an international company that has offices and job openings in the us and do a relocation thru them ( I believe L visa)

 

But with all of this I’m not 100% certain but almost

Ah, yes. I do know about the sponsorship and the cost of that. 

 

Yes, maybe that's the case. I used to work at a company with American owners and I used to have an American manager. Maybe that could be at least some kind of connection to the US? 

[mrmvkjts 459]

1 minute ago, Jacob Johansson said:

Ah, yes. I do know about the sponsorship and the cost of that. 

 

Yes, maybe that's the case. I used to work at a company with American owners and I used to have an American manager. Maybe that could be at least some kind of connection to the US? 

what do you mean with connection to the US?!

 

I’m taking about working for a company(right now) that has job offers in the US where you could relocate to, within the same company!

[kzielu 1,149]

11 minutes ago, Jacob Johansson said:

Ah, yes. I do know about the sponsorship and the cost of that. 

 

Yes, maybe that's the case. I used to work at a company with American owners and I used to have an American manager. Maybe that could be at least some kind of connection to the US? 

"connection" doesn't matter. You have to be hired by US company that will submit petition for a visa - that's how H-1B visa works (+ as other mentioned - it has its own requirements that you would have to meet and it doesn't appear that you do).

[Jacob Johansson 0]

11 minutes ago, kzielu said:

"connection" doesn't matter. You have to be hired by US company that will submit petition for a visa - that's how H-1B visa works (+ as other mentioned - it has its own requirements that you would have to meet and it doesn't appear that you do).

Thats not what I meant. I mean that I do have connections as in; that could be someone to talk with regarding recommendations etc - not that I would be granted a Visa just due to a contact. I know about that. 

[Going through 5,671]

2 hours ago, Jacob Johansson said:

The thing is; I read a lot of different things regarding Work Visas. Somewhere I do read that you need a "unique knowledge that cannot be found within USA". And yes, I do believe I have that. However, on some other places I do read that you need "certain kinds of education certificates" (which I dont have, except for secondary school (gymnasium/senior high school)). 

 

So... am I totally screwed on the matter of getting a Work Visa, or are there chances based upon my work experience and wide knowledge base? I am thinking about starting to look for a job in the US, but if I am totally screwed on the facts of my lack of education certificates, maybe that's a waste of time?

One of the requirements for the H-1B, if you do not have the formal equivalent of a US bachelors degree, is below:

 

Have education, training, or progressively responsible experience in the specialty that is equivalent to the completion of such a degree, and have recognition of expertise in the specialty through progressively responsible positions directly related to the specialty.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations-dod-cooperative-research-and-development-project-workers-and-fashion-models

Edited April 30, 2018 by Going through

[Jacob Johansson 0]

1 hour ago, Going through said:

One of the requirements for the H-1B, if you do not have the formal equivalent of a US bachelors degree, is below:

 

Have education, training, or progressively responsible experience in the specialty that is equivalent to the completion of such a degree, and have recognition of expertise in the specialty through progressively responsible positions directly related to the specialty.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations-dod-cooperative-research-and-development-project-workers-and-fashion-models

Ah, that sounds good at least! Thanks!

[CEE53147 559]

As little as 12 years of experience may qualify.  This is not true for a green card where a degree is essential.

 

The earliest you could work via an H-1B , if selected in any lottery, is Oct. 2019.

 

You might have better luck with an L-1 visa; this intra-company transfer has different requirements. Since you have to find an employer, this is certainly an option.

 

 

[Boiler 45,525]

I second the L, get  a transfer.