Working in the US

Hyrage · April 10, 2008, 08:49:44 AM

Well, it might seems a bit off-topic or off-PS, but I thought you could help me.
Nothing is actually started, but I want to know how it works for this kind of situation.

I was maybe planning to leave my Country (Canada) to work at a Game Dev Studio near Seattle. Do you have any idea about the procedures? Passport, and all that stuff? I do not even know how financial stuff works loll... It's probably not a big deal anyway lol.

I'll inform myself about this in during the week, but if you know anything about that I would be the happiest man ever.

Thx,
Hyrage

goodkebab · April 10, 2008, 03:40:22 PM

Employers will help you with this. Getting a work visa is complicated because you cannot get work without a visa, but you cannot get a visa without work.

Generally speaking, the american govt. are real pricks about the whole process -even before 9/11.

T2C LeBron · April 10, 2008, 04:31:50 PM

Quote from: HBW_Hyrage on April 10, 2008, 08:49:44 AM
Well, it might seems a bit off-topic or off-PS, but I thought you could help me.
Nothing is actually started, but I want to know how it works for this kind of situation.

I was maybe planning to leave my Country (Canada) to work at a Game Dev Studio near Seattle. Do you have any idea about the procedures? Passport, and all that stuff? I do not even know how financial stuff works loll... It's probably not a big deal anyway lol.

I'll inform myself about this in during the week, but if you know anything about that I would be the happiest man ever.

Thx,
Hyrage

meh its not that bad don't worry don't know about work visa though....

Xris · April 10, 2008, 04:35:19 PM

yes u have to get a work visa, and then if you live and work long enough in the US I believe you can apply for citizenship. OR you could always just find a girl once u move and marry her and then u are a US citizen lol.

Theodore W · April 10, 2008, 04:56:04 PM

To get a working visa, you need a sponsor / gurrantor first, in this case it would be your employer(s), and the paperworks have to be submitted to the relevant departments by both parties.

In addition to that you and your sponsor need to convince them that why they choose you over some locals with the same skills. The answer may be as simply as "you are the only 3 star french chef in town." or more complicated. At least thats how it works in Australia.

There is a skill shortage in the game industry here, perhaps you could give that a try.

Gui Brazil · April 10, 2008, 05:45:44 PM

Go with a tourist visa, and stay there for 6 months (which is the maximum you can, atleast for brazilians). When you get a job, go for the working visa.

Xris · April 10, 2008, 07:21:37 PM

We don't need a tourist visa when coming from canada, just a passport, and if driving only ID and a birth cirtificate. passports wont be needed til 2009 i believe when driving.

AgentX_003 · April 10, 2008, 07:32:14 PM

Quote from: Xris on April 10, 2008, 07:21:37 PM
We don't need a tourist visa when coming from canada, just a passport, and if driving only ID and a birth cirtificate. passports wont be needed til 2009 i believe when driving.

best bet tho is to google government of canada and see what the policies are from the site

Hyrage · April 10, 2008, 08:08:37 PM

Thx a lot guys, it sounds promising 8) .

Farley4Fan · April 10, 2008, 11:59:46 PM

I was born in Washington and lived there for years. One thing I can tell is that it will be raining. Almost 100% sure it will be this time of the year. Just giving you a heads up if you ever do go. I recommend bringing rain coats and extra pants. :D

Everything that most people here have said is true. Except for Kebab lol. They aren't being pricks. They are doing what they SHOULD be doing to prevent anything like 9/11 from happening again. Don't do anything suspicious and they won't be suspicious of you, that's how it works.

goodkebab · April 11, 2008, 12:38:36 AM

a foriegner crossing the border to the USA has entirely differant experience then an american crossing the USA border.

I have been to around 13 different countries, and the only one where the customs officers power trip is when entering the USA.

Farley4Fan · April 11, 2008, 01:12:24 AM

Not many other countries have had their planes hijacked recently killing thousands of innocent people and costing the country millions. People are still dying today because of the attacks 7 years ago. We also have very strict immigration policies as of now because we have hundreds of thousands of people illegally living here.

frvge · April 11, 2008, 01:26:31 AM

The only place where I was treated like a criminal was at the US border. I dont like my fingerprints being taken while I haven't done anything. Might as well put me into jail for something that can possibly come with chances of 0.000000000001%. I think it's laughable that they demand your creditcard data. How does that stop any 'big' criminal activity?

Terrorist: "Shit, they tracked my creditcard purchase of this WMD"
....

Anyway... meh.

Farley4Fan · April 11, 2008, 02:06:22 AM

Again, the regulations weren't so strict before 9/11. It's all precaution. Better safe than sorry. How else do you think it would work in a country that was just struck by a huge terrorist attack? They would like to know who is getting on the plane. No one really knows that you aren't a terrorist as they come in all shapes and sizes, although 90% are arabic/muslim.

Westfall · April 11, 2008, 02:10:57 AM

Quote from: Papa Skull on April 11, 2008, 02:06:22 AM
Again, the regulations weren't so strict before 9/11. It's all precaution. Better safe than sorry. How else do you think it would work in a country that was just struck by a huge terrorist attack? They would like to know who is getting on the plane. No one really knows that you aren't a terrorist as they come in all shapes and sizes, although 90% are arabic/muslim.

Just struck? Look at your time frame.

There are rules that are followed. Thats how it works. There are strict rules now because of what happened in 2001. Thats how it works. Its unfortunate some1 had to ruin it for everyone, but welcome to what human kind has created. Strict rules that are followed, yet still flawed.