<p>hi
today I was looking into companies who hire new graduates in Engineering.
I noticed that usually they say that you need to be a US citizen ,permanent resident in order to work for them !
so what if I couldn't get the green card when being in the US??
would that be just a waste of my tuition money??
what if I couldn't get it and the USCIS will ask me to leave the country once I finish my study?? that would be a disaster for me guys.
any 1 has the same situation of mine in here??</p>
<p>You can always work overseas when you are done if that becomes and issue. Usually it isn’t though unless the company in question does national security related tasks or requires a clearance for any other reason.</p>
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<p>You got an education didn’t you?</p>
<p>When you come to the USA with a student (F-1) visa, and you complete the 4 years of study here, you are entitled to work as an OPT. Basically, for 12 months, you can work here in a position connected to your major, without the need of a working visa. After these 12 months, if you are employed, you can ask your employee to sponsor a visa, or find one that does. However, this does not allow you to work in defense companies or any company that requires security clearance, since you will not be a citizen or green card holder. But if a company is willing to hire you for a year and you do a good job, there’s a good possibility they can sponsor your visa. Worst case scenario, there is always Europe, Canada, your home country and so many other countries to work at, since you gonna have a diploma from here, and that is a really valuable asset in the market</p>
<p>Fortunately, Engineering is not a culture specific field of study. It is done all over the world and is done pretty much the same way everywhere you go so just because you got your degree in the U.S. does not mean you can not find a job in another country if you are unable to remain in the U.S. after you complete your degree program. In fact there may be places that will offer even better opportunities than are available in the U.S.</p>
<p>Calm down, take a deep breath, and listen.</p>
<p>If you’re planning to invest money in an engineering degree as a way to a Green Card, the answer is a big ‘It Depends’. Very big. First, let me preface this by reminding everyone that I did come to the US for college from beautiful Elbonia, EU so I’ve been there, done that, got the T-shirt. So here it goes.</p>
<p>The current system sort of allows BS degree holders to ‘qualify’ for a GC. There are a couple of different preference categories and the system is convoluted at best, totally hosed at worst, and somewhere in the middle in general. The path may be straightforward for a PhD grad from Stanford, but for a BSEE it may be quite different. Consult [EB2</a> or EB3: Understanding the Difference « Murthy Law Firm : U.S. Immigration Law](<a href=“http://www.murthy.com/2011/07/15/eb2-or-eb3-understanding-the-difference/]EB2”>EB2 or EB3: Understanding the Difference - Murthy Law Firm | U.S Immigration Law) for details.</p>
<p>The second is the nature of hiring. As time goes by and more and more jobs are sent overseas, the remaining jobs in the US are going to be very high value, with lots of competition. In my days (mid 80’s) it was fairly easy to get a job, 30+ years later it may not be. It will be easier for someone with a BS from CalTech and internship to the space station every weekend but for the masses, things will not get a lot better. Don’t believe the part about ‘engineering shortages’ and the like. </p>
<p>The final and most controversial piece of the puzzle is what happens if and when some immigration reform takes place. I’d wager my well-conditioned liver that there will be the usual grumbling about ‘we need more engineers rah rah rah’ from the business community, and the lawmakers may actually fall for it. Eventually, those who are in the business will figure out that this ain’t the case, and that this has gone over for too long, and resentment will start building. Once that occurs, one cannot predict what will happen next. I would not be surprised to see that the outcome from a more open immigration policy towards STEM degree holders will result (within a few short years) in serious backlash against the degree holders, the companies, and so on. It ain’t gonna be pretty. </p>
<p>Ultimately, it’s a money grab. The business community loves an ample supply of marginally to average qualified engineers as it brings down the salaries for everyone. They would also love to bring in people to work 80 hours a week for 40 hours pay. Again, ultimately, something will have to give. </p>
<p>I wish the above scenarios would stay in the realm of science fiction, but one never knows. One just doesn’t.</p>
<p>In other words, I would not plan for engineering to be the quick way to the GC that many people envision. If the wind blows the right way, and you’re from certain countries that don’t have 10 year waits, and many other factors, and attend a good school, and so on, sure. There’s a chance. Otherwise…</p>
<p>Nobody has mentioned H-1B visas yet, which give non-US citizens the right to work in the US, and generally come as a stepping stone on the path to a green card. This might well change before you would actually have a degree, but for now, there is a special allocation of H-1B visas for those with graduate degrees (MS, PhD) from US Universities. (Not sure if it is only for STEM graduates, since I only ever hire engineers.) Many years the number of allocated H-1B visas run out, with the special allocation for graduate degrees typically lasting longer. </p>
<p>A company has to be willing to jump through the hoops to sponsor an H-1B visa, which typically requires that they demonstrate difficulty in filling the position with a US citizen. The best odds for that is to have a graduate degree from a highly ranked US school. Having only a BS from a no-name school doesn’t give you great odds for finding a job with a company who is willing to sponsor for an H-1B visa, as it would be difficult to argue that the position couldn’t be filled with a US citizen.</p>
<p>Don’t think that makes the degree worthless however. A US engineering degree could be valuable in finding an engineering job in lots of other countries.</p>
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I am pretty sure about that.</p>
<p>I may get the green card through marriage or something else.
finding a job is not the only way :)</p>
<p>Do a Google search for the Immigration Forum operated by a well known Immigration lawyer. You’ll find all kinds of info there.</p>
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<p>thanks a lot Bro.</p>
<p>OP: just wondering are you single?..if yes then try dating and marrying any US Citizens then…may your dream come true.</p>
<p>I dated 3 classmates in college in the US, all Asian, all student visa holders. I married the last one so no more dating and no green card from there either :).</p>
<p>turbo93: So, mission has been accomplished? you got your Engineering Degree, got married, got a job with US company in the US, etc…then life is good.</p>
<p>yes,I am single and I have though about that seriously but I hope I will find a good girl to marry.
but don’t you think that getting married after Bachelor degree will vanish your future education like Phd,Ms ??</p>
<p>Yes, that’s true after marriage, you are in a different “ball game”, that is taking care kids if any, needing better job with good income and benefits, planning to buy house, new car/mini van, etc. That’s why I like to get my grad school degree after undergrad (be done with schooling) then start looking for job after that getting married. Well, whatever works for you nothing is impossible.</p>
<p>I got married. That didn’t stop me from doing a Ph.D. If getting married keeps you from following your educational dreams, then you got married to the wrong person.</p>
<p>Life in the US has been good in some ways and not as good in others. It has been considerably more work than it should be - getting a career established, dealing with less-than-understanding in-laws (think having Amy Chua for a mother in law - or wife -), raising two kids that combine multiple and disjoint cultures, and so on. Not to mention living in a state where not too long ago one could find on the same aisle “Mexican Food, Asian Food, Dog Food, Cat Food” (saw that in the supermarket and ROTFL’d for days back then). </p>
<p>On the good side I get to do what I enjoy, compared to my Elbonian friend who got BS Aero Engineering, and is now managing a paint factory in Elbonia…</p>
<p>I disagree about getting married and grad school. Both me and Mrs. T. were married during our last stints in grad school and one of the kids was born in the middle of the semester. Thankfully the prof. did not give us any grief for rescheduling her midterm. </p>
<p>It all depends what kind of family support you have. If you can put up with your mother in law (free daycare) then kids during grad school are a good idea. Married student housing has some very good deals depending on where you go, too.</p>
<p>More power to you guys that have gotten married during grad school. As for me, I am still a long way of walking down the isle. I would like to finish my undergrad first then…nothing is impossible and if you want it so badly, you will eventually get it. Whatever works for y’all…</p>
<p>Jan2012:
I prefer your choice 
, marriage after finishing the school.
I am still 19 BTW so it is too early to talk about marriage for me.</p>