Trying to understand the Employment Visa

[Leone Vincente 0]

Hello, i'm new here and i'm looking for help

I'm currently 39 and i'm a SEO Specialist living in italy. If you don't know what is a "SEO specialist" have a look at this wiki article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine_optimization

I've been doing this work for around 7 years and before that i was also an accomplished web developer, creating dynamic websites. The web marketing is currently

my strongest skill and i would like to live in the USA, because i'm facing a lot of drawbacks in italy: many of the things i learn to do, i can't apply to my clients, because

most of the innovations are introduced first in the USA! And some of those may require months or years to be applied abroad.

So my wisest move in my career path would be to relocate in the USA in order to improve my experience.

I'm already trying to find some companies who may be interested in hiring me, but what are the costs involved for them to hire me ? how much time, on average, is needed for a

request to be approved ?

Thanks in advance for any insight!

[canadian_wife 1,823]

Sponsoring an immigrant is an expensive venture. And especially when the economy is so down in the US - plenty of US citizens out of work. Also, a LOT of companies outsource their IT departments so that leaves little jobs left in the industry.

The 2 most common ones are an H1B visa

http://www.immspec.com/h-1b-visa.htm

http://www.workpermit.com/us/us_h1b.htm

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=f56e4154d7b3d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD

First step would be to find an employer willing to hire you and sponsor you. Until that happens, you can't do much

Good luck

[Boiler 45,670]

Best bet is is internal transfer, failing that a lot of networking.

If you are top of your trade you have a chance.

[Leone Vincente 0]

Sponsoring an immigrant is an expensive venture. And especially when the economy is so down in the US - plenty of US citizens out of work. Also, a LOT of companies outsource their IT departments so that leaves little jobs left in the industry.

The 2 most common ones are an H1B visa

http://www.immspec.com/h-1b-visa.htm

http://www.workpermit.com/us/us_h1b.htm

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=f56e4154d7b3d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD

First step would be to find an employer willing to hire you and sponsor you. Until that happens, you can't do much

Good luck

Thanks Canadiana Wife! How much money is involved in the process ?

Best bet is is internal transfer, failing that a lot of networking.

If you are top of your trade you have a chance.

Hello Boiler,

I doubt there are american companies working in the web marketing that have busines units in italy

[Boiler 45,670]

The cost for you is fairly minimal, the employer pays it.

My wife worked in IT, her US company had an Italian subsidiary. I would have thought there would be many others.

[Leone Vincente 0]

The cost for you is fairly minimal, the employer pays it.

My wife worked in IT, her US company had an Italian subsidiary. I would have thought there would be many others.

Hey, thanks again for your answer!

I would like to know which is the amount paid by the employer, just for curiosity.

And the only web marketing agency which i know has a sort of an italian subsidiary is Bruce Clay Inc and as far as i know they are linked only

by the name, because apparently if you are hired by the italian subsidiary you can't transfer to the US company.

[Boiler 45,670]

Legal fees is the biggie, and a variable.

5 to 10 grand or so.

[Anonymous 0]

I don't know what type of company you are currently working for but SEO is a function of digital advertising and all advertising agencies either have in-house digital shops or outsource their digital needs. Therefore, most all agencies have a need for employees with digital advertising experience.

I work in the advertising industry on digital/interactive campaigns including, among many other elements, SEO. While it is a very competitive job market, many agencies are starting to hire again. However, the number of qualified applicants in the US is plentiful. That being said, some agencies will hire/sponsor foreign employees. An agency where I previously worked sponsored a German national, but I believe she was already in the US prior to her hiring. The previous suggestion of seeking employment at a global agency in Italy and then transferring to the US is probably your best bet. Omnicom Group, Inc. is the largest advertising conglomerate in the world and has several companies with offices throughout the world, TBWA is probably the biggest Omnicom-owned agency. JWT (WPP owned) also has an office in Italy and IPG is the third largest advertising holding company in the world.

Hope this info. is beneficial to you.

[Stanley Hermosill 1]

I would try any one of the global ad agencies, as a member of the EU it might be better for you to get a job at any agency in western europe and then try to attempt an internal transfer that way. I don't know how often that happens but its a thought.