{"id":34243,"date":"2019-10-31T21:57:10","date_gmt":"2019-10-31T18:57:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prohoster.info\/blog\/kak-ne-programmistu-pereehat-ssha-poshagovaya-instruktsiya\/"},"modified":"2019-10-31T21:57:10","modified_gmt":"2019-10-31T18:57:10","slug":"kak-ne-programmistu-pereehat-ssha-poshagovaya-instruktsiya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prohoster.info\/en\/blog\/news\/kak-ne-programmistu-pereehat-ssha-poshagovaya-instruktsiya","title":{"rendered":"How to move to the USA as a non-programmer: step-by-step guide","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

\"How<\/a><\/noindex><\/p>\n

There are many posts on Habr about how to find a job in America. The problem is that it feels like 95% of these texts are written by developers. This is their main drawback, as it is significantly easier for programmers to move to the States today than for representatives of other professions. <\/p>\n

I moved to the USA over two years ago as an internet marketing specialist, and today I will discuss the pathways for work immigration available to non-programmers. <\/a><\/noindex><\/p>\n

The main point: it will be extremely difficult for you to find a job from Russia.
\n<\/h2>\n

\nThe standard path for a programmer to move to America is either to seek a job independently or, if you have good experience, to respond to one of the recruiters' messages on LinkedIn, go through several interviews, handle the paperwork, and then move.<\/p>\n

For marketing specialists, system administrators, and other internet-related professionals who are not developers, it's much more complicated. You can send hundreds of applications for jobs on sites like Monster.com and look for something on LinkedIn, but the response rate will be minimal \u2013 you are not in America, and there is a shortage of programmers in this country, while there are enough administrators, marketers, and journalists. Finding a job remotely will be extremely difficult. Relocating one employee via a work visa will cost a company about $10,000, a lot of time, and with an H1-B work visa, there\u2019s a chance of not winning the lottery and being left without an employee. If you're not a high-quality programmer, no one will go to such lengths for you.<\/p>\n

It's unlikely that you can move to an American company while in Russia and request a transfer in a couple of years. The logic is clear \u2013 if you establish yourself and then request a transfer to a foreign office, why should they refuse you? In reality, in most cases, they will probably not refuse you, but your chances of reaching America won't significantly increase.<\/p>\n

Yes, there are examples of relocation through this scheme, but again, it is more realistic for programmers, and even then, you may have to wait years for relocation. A much more practical approach is to engage in self-education, professional development, work on interesting projects, and then take your destiny into your own hands and handle the move yourself.<\/p>\n

To assist those relocating to the USA, I launched a project. SB Relocate<\/a><\/noindex> is a website where you can find the most relevant information on various types of visas, receive consultations, and get assistance in compiling data for your visa case. <\/p>\n

Voting for our project is currently taking place on Product Hunt. If you like what we are doing or have any questions\u2014please ask them or share your experiences\/your wishes for development. at the link<\/a><\/noindex>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

Step #1. Decide on a visa<\/h2>\n

\nOverall, there are currently three real options for relocation if we do not consider winning the green card lottery and various paths for family immigration and seeking political asylum.<\/p>\n

H1-B Visa<\/h3>\n

\nThe standard work visa. To obtain it, you need a company that will act as your sponsor. There are caps for H1B visas\u2014for example, the cap for the 2019 fiscal year was 65,000, while in 2018, 199,000 applications were submitted for this visa. These visas are allocated through a lottery. <\/p>\n

An additional 20,000 visas are granted to those specialists who received their education in the USA (Master\u2019s Exemption Cap). Therefore, it makes sense to consider studying in the USA and looking for a job already with a local diploma.<\/p>\n

L-1 Visa<\/h3>\n

\nThese types of visas are issued to employees of American companies who work outside the country. If a company has a representation in Russia or, for example, in Europe, after working there for a year, you can be eligible for this visa. There is no cap on it, making it a more convenient option than the H1-B. <\/p>\n

The problem is finding a company that will hire you and then want to handle your relocation\u2014usually, an employer prefers a good employee to be useful at their current position for as long as possible.<\/p>\n

O-1 Visa for Extraordinary Individuals<\/h3>\n

\nThe O-1 visa is designed for extraordinary individuals from various fields who need to come to the USA for the purpose of working on projects. Business representatives receive the O-1A visa (this is your option as an employee of a commercial company), while the O-1B visa subtype is intended for artists.<\/p>\n

This visa has no caps and can be obtained entirely independently\u2014this is its main advantage. However, don't rush to think that it will be easy; on the contrary, it is quite the opposite. <\/p>\n

First of all, an O-1 visa requires an employer. You can bypass this requirement by registering your own company and hiring yourself. You will also need to meet a number of criteria, and hiring a lawyer for visa application preparation will cost at least $10,000 and take several months. I wrote in more detail about the application process here<\/a><\/noindex>, and here here<\/a><\/noindex> there is a checklist in the document to assess your chances of obtaining such a visa on your own \u2013 saving a couple of hundred dollars on the initial lawyer consultation. <\/p>\n

Step #2. Creating a financial safety net<\/h2>\n

\nA crucial point that is often overlooked is the cost of relocation. Moving to an expensive country like the USA will require a significant amount of money. At a minimum, you will need it for the initial period:<\/p>\n