Strong Qualifications to Pair with Experience for H-1B Visa

[ConorDavies 0]

Good evening all,

 

Hope you had a great new year.

 

I am reaching out to try and get some help in what direction I may be best taking in my career, after hours and hours of extensive research I believe I’ve narrowed my options right down now so I would appreciate any insight,

My circumstances are that I am a UK national living in the UK, I would like to move to the US. I don’t have a formal degree however I have a good work experience background in that I run a large scale project for a top UK bank as a contractor/ ‘Head of Site’ with experience in quality assurance and a few years in Operations & Senior operations Management experience. I also have Prince 2, a few R0 exams passed and currently finishing APMP studying.

 

I’m looking for a way to move to the US by being offered employment and applying for a H-1B visa, I know I have what it takes in a practical Senior Operations Management/ Head of Site role, however I am finding it hard to translate to the US marketplace as job offers are very specific in requirements.

I believe I need to study to prove a clear direction and set of expertise to an employer,I also need to keep in mind most job requirements state a Bachelors degree or equivalent, whist I have a lot of experience I don’t have this formally to prove.

 

I considered CFA given it’s seniority/ demand in the US marketplace, however I don’t feel this compliments my experience in Senior management and may be a waste of time/ money unless I want to work in asset/ portfolio management, also if I pass CFA I will be deemed the bottom of this ladder and may struggle to justify a US visa with this qualificaiton only.

There is PMP, which would compliment my existing experience which I am considering.

I could consider an MBA studying part time in the UK for 2 years (there are ways to bypass not having a bachelors degree) however as this won’t be from a top rated school I feel this could be a waste of time/ money in the US job market place.

 

Are there any other study at home qualifications that are US (or Canadian as my second option) recognized which can be translated to the equivalent to a Bachelors/ Masters degree and I could use with my senior management experience to put me in good light to secure a job in the US and pass the visa requirements to justify being brought in to the US, aside from CFA or PMP? In the UK we have CMI Level 6 (Bachelors equivalent) and Level 7 (Masters equivalent) however from my research this isn’t a hugely recognized global qualification and may again turn in to a waste of time & money.

I will fully invest in whatever option I choose, I just need to get the right option first to begin my journey!

Thank you in advance!

[Boiler 45,486]

Well you can substitute work experience for qualifications.

 

Or perhaps more obviously get a job in the UK with a company that will transfer you to their US operation.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

First off, you need to understand that not only do you need a US employer to sponsor you for a H1B visa, but (1) visas are oversubscribed and allocated by lottery so even if you find a willing employer, you still may not get a visa, and (2) there is a maximum time you can spend in the US on H1 so unless you can get your employer to sponsor you for a green card, figure on returning to the UK eventually anyway. With both of those factors in mind, whatever you choose to study should stand in you in good stead in the UK (or wherever else you may choose to move to) and not just be tailored towards a possible US job.

 

I think most (all?) UK hons bachelors degrees are equivalent to a US bachelors, but you can do the WES “free” evaluation with a pretend qualification to see what it spits out for you. Bear in mind also the H1 lottery is being tilted further towards those with a masters or higher degree from a US institution.

 

 

 

 

[ConorDavies 0]

21 hours ago, Boiler said:

Well you can substitute work experience for qualifications.

 

Or perhaps more obviously get a job in the UK with a company that will transfer you to their US operation.

Agreed, that's an option too I will consider.

 

Thanks for your response, much appreciated.

[ConorDavies 0]

19 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

First off, you need to understand that not only do you need a US employer to sponsor you for a H1B visa, but (1) visas are oversubscribed and allocated by lottery so even if you find a willing employer, you still may not get a visa, and (2) there is a maximum time you can spend in the US on H1 so unless you can get your employer to sponsor you for a green card, figure on returning to the UK eventually anyway. With both of those factors in mind, whatever you choose to study should stand in you in good stead in the UK (or wherever else you may choose to move to) and not just be tailored towards a possible US job.

 

I think most (all?) UK hons bachelors degrees are equivalent to a US bachelors, but you can do the WES “free” evaluation with a pretend qualification to see what it spits out for you. Bear in mind also the H1 lottery is being tilted further towards those with a masters or higher degree from a US institution.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your response, very helpful. Do you know how robust the EB2 visa process is? i.e is demonstrating you run a large scale sensitive project for a top bank demonstrating your credit to the US job marketplace, or do you need to provide 10's of years of experience and truly be a master of your field? One of the problems I have is that all of my work is under NDA.

 

I'll check out WES, thanks for the recommendation.

 

Do you know if this is being tilted towards Master and Bachelors only or whether the equivalent can also be used to the same effect (i.e the CMI level 6 & 7 I referred to which are Bachelors/ Masters degree equivalents, but not formal degrees).

 

Thanks again

[Boiler 45,486]

EB2 is for those with advanced degrees or equivalent, anyway that would be down to the  lawyer/Employer.

[ConorDavies 0]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

EB2 is for those with advanced degrees or equivalent, anyway that would be down to the  lawyer/Employer.

Thanks Boiler

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

1 hour ago, ConorDavies said:

Thank you for your response, very helpful. Do you know how robust the EB2 visa process is? i.e is demonstrating you run a large scale sensitive project for a top bank demonstrating your credit to the US job marketplace, or do you need to provide 10's of years of experience and truly be a master of your field? One of the problems I have is that all of my work is under NDA.

 

I'll check out WES, thanks for the recommendation.

 

Do you know if this is being tilted towards Master and Bachelors only or whether the equivalent can also be used to the same effect (i.e the CMI level 6 & 7 I referred to which are Bachelors/ Masters degree equivalents, but not formal degrees).

 

Thanks again

No idea about EB2 but If you search this forum there have been other threads on it.

 

My understanding is that when they say bachelors or equivalent they want a degree. The masters quota by the way is specifically for US masters degrees.

[ConorDavies 0]

4 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

No idea about EB2 but If you search this forum there have been other threads on it.

 

My understanding is that when they say bachelors or equivalent they want a degree. The masters quota by the way is specifically for US masters degrees.

Thanks Susie, much appreciated.

 

Apologies to sound thick, but what do you mean by Master Quota sorry?

 

Thanks

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

There are 2 parts to the h1b lottery, the first bit is for everyone who is entered into it (bachelors, masters, etc) and the second part is reserved for those with a US masters or higher degree. This is what I meant by the lottery being tilted towards US masters/higher.

[designguy 1,179]

Unless you qualify for a national interest waiver (which I  can almost guarantee you dont), or you have extra-ordinary abilities, then there is no way for you to do this on you own. You HAVE to have a company that will sponsor you. 

 

You will need a bachelor's degree to qualify there is basically no way around it. You are talking about senior management positions at a bank. That would fall under "A bachelor’s or higher degree, or its equivalent is normally the minimum requirement for the particular position (https://my.uscis.gov/exploremyoptions/h1_visas_for_temporary_workers)

 

You will not qualify for an H1B. The only possible route I would see would be a EB3 under the skilled worker category. Even then you still need an employer first. So start there...

[ConorDavies 0]

10 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

There are 2 parts to the h1b lottery, the first bit is for everyone who is entered into it (bachelors, masters, etc) and the second part is reserved for those with a US masters or higher degree. This is what I meant by the lottery being tilted towards US masters/higher.

Ah that makes sense, thanks Susie!

[ConorDavies 0]

9 hours ago, designguy said:

Unless you qualify for a national interest waiver (which I  can almost guarantee you dont), or you have extra-ordinary abilities, then there is no way for you to do this on you own. You HAVE to have a company that will sponsor you. 

 

You will need a bachelor's degree to qualify there is basically no way around it. You are talking about senior management positions at a bank. That would fall under "A bachelor’s or higher degree, or its equivalent is normally the minimum requirement for the particular position (https://my.uscis.gov/exploremyoptions/h1_visas_for_temporary_workers)

 

You will not qualify for an H1B. The only possible route I would see would be a EB3 under the skilled worker category. Even then you still need an employer first. So start there...

Thanks designguy, very helpful response.

 

I would assume being at a level below directorship for a bank wouldn't qualify for extra-ordinary abilities if my role is just basically senior management?

 

That makes sense, would I be able to ask you to kindly google 'CMI Level 6' which is a UK based qualification that can be seen as a Bachelors Equivalent to see if your view is this can pass? I appreciate it isn't a formal Bachelors degree, but it's a 1 year study at home which will enable me to continue my work and obtain a UK based equivalent rather than needing to go back to school for 4 years. I hope you understand the reason why I would prefer the study at home option.

 

I'll check out the EB3 option too today, many thanks

[Boiler 45,486]

Have you discussed this with prospective employers?

[designguy 1,179]

2 hours ago, ConorDavies said:

Thanks designguy, very helpful response.

 

I would assume being at a level below directorship for a bank wouldn't qualify for extra-ordinary abilities if my role is just basically senior management?

 

That makes sense, would I be able to ask you to kindly google 'CMI Level 6' which is a UK based qualification that can be seen as a Bachelors Equivalent to see if your view is this can pass? I appreciate it isn't a formal Bachelors degree, but it's a 1 year study at home which will enable me to continue my work and obtain a UK based equivalent rather than needing to go back to school for 4 years. I hope you understand the reason why I would prefer the study at home option.

 

I'll check out the EB3 option too today, many thanks

I dont think you would qualify for an EB1. You can check the requirements here https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-first-preference-eb-1

 

From what I could tell the CMI Level 6 would not qualify. Bachelors are generally 4 year degrees so they would want to see something at the same level.

 

 

FYI its not for you to really check out anything on the visa side. Your focus needs to be on finding an employer. They are the ones who will be responsible for everything on the visa side (Up to the NVC step). Your biggest hurdle is going to be trying to find an employer to sponsor you without an existing relationship