Job Hunt - America

[Addi]

Hi everyone, I was hoping I could trouble you nice industry people/people in the US for some help.

I'm going to start applying to places in the US this week, last week I had an interview that went really well but turns out they didn’t need the extra staff (they're laid some people off) and couldn’t hire me. This was in the UK.

Now I'm very lucky at the moment to have a good job as a kinda technical artist at a real Studio (real world keeps me very busy 9-5 :P) But I'm not sure this job will be permanent, (after this game is complete, I don’t think there would be enough work here to keep me on). And with the other interview going well but there being no job at the end of it, well I'm not sure if I'll find anything here in the UK.

I also think it might help my search if I cast my net a a little wider, not just in the UK and there's many a company in the US

Those are the professional reasons; I have personal ones too

Anyway! Some info about myself -->

- I have a degree (BA) in Game Art. Which I studied for 3 Years.
(This would help with the immigration issue perhaps?)
- My portfolio website Michael Adgar - 3D Artist
(CV is on there too…I should make it longer?)
- I have a passport :P
- Currently I'm employed at a studio as a 3D Artist/Technical Artist
(Experience woo!)

Now I was wondering if anyone had any tips (or leads anyone know of a job?)

In my job search here in the UK I’ve just sent perspective applications to companies, vacancy or not. Sometimes I’ve gotten replies, sometimes not.

Should I use the same method on US Studios?

I’m sure I’ll have more questions soon, but umm, that’s all I can think of right now.
So if anyone did go from the UK to the US for work, or has any advice that would be useful please do share

Also! I'm sure I saw an article about just this subject last year, if anyone could find that it would probably answer a load of my questions

Thanks!
Addi

[NoirQ]

Take this with a pinch of Salt, as i don't work in the industry, let alone the US, so all I have to offer is what I have from friends. Getting a Visa is an arse nowadays, unless you've got experince (which you have). I'm not sure how much experince is required for it though, but from what i've heard, it takes forever to sort out, and is genrally a pain.
However, supposedly, its easier to get a visa for one of the former commonwealth countries (Canada, Australia etc). Don't know what levels of truth there are to that, but might be something to consider.

[Talon]

Generally, if a company wants you badly enough, they'll sort out the VISA and such. Having a degree will help getting one a lot. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

If you're applying as a technical artist, you might do well to show stuff on your folio that's of a technical nature. There's nothing there at the moment that suggests you know scripting or tool making (your CV doesn't say anything about it, either).

And yeah, applying to any studio would use the same method. Just apply if you want to work there, specified vacancies or not.

I might also say that if you're struggling to find a job in the UK, it may well be even harder for you to find one in the US. As not only does the company have to employ you, but it has to sort out VISAs and getting you over there, etc... whereas in the UK that's not much more fuss than a few hours car journey.

[Addi]

A Good point, I should have also mentioned I'm open to Canada too. (visited only once, but it was very pretty )

I've been reading the Visa info on the US Gov website and the London Embassy office. From what I can gather there are two types of visa that would be my best bet. One is a temporary worker visa and the other...

I think this is the one, E3 its called on the US website.
Embassy of the U.S. London: Skilled Workers, Professionals & Other Workers

As I mention, I have a degree, studied for 3 years, not a great deal of industry experience <1 year. Perhaps I'll email them tonight (the embassy) and probe them for info...

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to proceed? Just start answering ad's on company websites? send out resumes in emails?
As I understand it, you need to get an offer of a job before you get the visa...

Cheers.

Edit..

Talon: Thanks dude I've not had any time to update my CV with the new skills I have (crunch time continues! waaa!). I'm not sure about applying as a technical artist, probably more General 3D and Environment with the Technical as like, an added extra to my skillbase

Edit 2..

I know its more complex because I'd have the visa stuff but I'm just thinking, if I cast my net quite wide, maybe I'll catch more fish :P And I'll still be applying to UK companies, but someday I'll run out of places to send applications May as well try the US and Canada, nothing ventured nothing gained

TY!

[xtremepenguin]

I was speaking to someone from LucasArts last year and they apparently have had a fair few people from overseas come and work for them. They said it it easier visa wise if you have been working for less than 3 years.

[Addi]

Originally Posted by xtremepenguin

I was speaking to someone from LucasArts last year and they apparently have had a fair few people from overseas come and work for them. They said it it easier visa wise if you have been working for less than 3 years.

less than? I'm sure you meant more... right?

Also, I'm just going off what I remember, but Canada has a requirement that you have been employed for 1 full year... without a break. I'll have to check that, and if their is any special preference given to other members of the commonwealth

[xtremepenguin]

It was definately less than, i dunno why, it does sound strange

[crazer]

Last thing I heard about US visas is that you need 12 years of working experience to qualify for an H1B and each year of studying for your degree/BA accounts for 3 years of working experience.
So if you have 3 years of work experience on top of your 3 years of studying then you should be fine.

If you don't then I think there's also a temporary visa (18 months max.) that you can get .

[IchII3D]

The reason US VISAs are hard to get is because of 9/11 before that it was super easy. Its also another way to control the quality of people moving into the US as after all, when the US gives you a VISA its because they are sure they will make money from you and you will be adding to there econemy.

Without a Degree its pritty much impossible these days, as far as I'm aware even with a company sponsoring you then you still need a degree to a specific level. With Bachelor Arts been less than a Bachelor Science. Unless they over exagerate things on there website, which could easily be the case.

The only way for you to get a proper work VISA which changes your citizen ship is to do the following.

- Marry an American Women (but you will still have to wait 2-3 years before you can work and it will cost a shitload in paperwork. It cost a friend of mine over £5000 just to get her Greencard and that took her over 2 years.

- Get a company to sponsor you, by doing this any debt or crimes etc... you get while in America until you are a full time citizen with a greencard which takes around 1 year they are liable for anything you do. Which means a lot of trust will be given to you.

Basiclly meaning, get on Myspace and find some stupid women to marry or make sure your acting mature in your phone interview. Which will most likily be how they do the first stage of interviews. Expect around 2-4 stages lasting around 3-4 days.

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[Addi]

Thanks for the posts everyone, I've zoned in on a few particular studios to try out.

Going to work on some low poly stuff for my 'folio to show my range a little more.

With regards to Visas, is there anything I should be doing on my end here before I apply?