Hi guys. I’m doing a Bachelor’s degree in Mech.Eng. here in Brazil and I would like to discuss about the opportunities of International Students in USA. I’m planning to pursue a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineer there in US and then live in the country after I conclued the graduation. I already know some of the requirements to have a good degree, however, I would like to know if there are some kind of preconception with international students when searching for a job, even if the student has excellent marks and a great academic historic. Is there any obstruction?
The biggest obstacle is that you aren’t a US citizen or legal permanent resident. You will be able to work in the US for approximately one year with an extension of your visa in order to gain practical experience. The exact length of this OPT is currently being revised, so please do not expect to be able to have more than one year.
In order to remain here after you complete your OPT, you will need to find an employer that is able to get a work visa for you (H1B). That is not automatic. There are a limited number of these visas each year.
Your goal must be to come here to study, and then to return to your country. If the visa officer who interviews you believes that your plan is to remain here after you graduate, you will not get a student visa.
Yes, it is very difficult to get a job in the US, especially in areas that are funded by government contracts.
You cannot presume that once you get a US degree that you will be sponsored by a company.
Expect to return to your country. A degree in aerospace more than likely will require US citizenship to be employed with a security clearance.
You may want to check with @B@r!m who is much more knowledgeable in this area.
Yes. It’s called a visa.
To work in the US you have to get a visa, and your employer has to get it for you. They are scarce and not easy to get. It’s not just students: all non-nationals have to get work visas. More info here: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/employment.html
Thank you all, but, does the university I studied matter when trying to get a visa?
I’m also considering other countries, like Canada, Australia or some of the UK, because I really want to work in this field and here in my country it is very difficult to find an aerospace company, imagine a good one…
I read that in Canada it’s way easier to stay in the country after finishing a graduation, and I know some people who have already did it.
If you have some knowledge about Canada’s visa, please share!
Talking about Canada, I know Mechanical and Aerospace Engineers are on the list of acceptable professional to immigrate to the country, and maybe this can help.
However, what do you think is better? To do the graduation in a good college from US and after this go to Canada, or to go directly to Canada, study and work? (Yes, there are good colleges in Canada as well.) xD
Another question: I can only get a permanent visa in US after I already had a temporary one?
Not strictly necessary. However, given the processing times of a permanent resident visa, many people who qualify for one still opt for a temporary visa first.
It’s worth noting that employment-based permanent resident status requires sponsorship from your employer. Most employers prefer to hire foreign employees on a temporary work visa for a few years before they proceed to the green card petition.
Have you looked in São José dos Campos, Botucatu, Eugênio de Melo or Gavião Peixoto? Because one of Brazil’s star companies- Embraer, tied for the third largest aerospace company in the world- has operations in all those places. They also have a production facility in Florida and a repair facility someplace like Kentucky or Tennessee (can’t remember which).
It is VERY difficult to get a job in the US in Aerospace Engineering unless you are a US citizen.
@collegemom3717 Yes, I would say Embraer is the best company for aeronautical engineers in Brazil, but that’s not exactly what I want.
Sorry, I guess I didn’t make myself understandable. I want to work with the space exploration, the engineer of rockets, spacecrafts and satellites, probably with parallel studies in astronomy. So Embraer would just be a good path to begin my carrer, not to stay there.
Considering that I’ve got the green card and I became a US citizen, will it still be hard to find a job in aerospace engineering just because of my nationality?
For most of the jobs you want, it is useful to have a Security Clearance. That requires citizenship, but also requires lifestyle choices. There are civil jobs (like NASA), but even those are more and more in places that have a mix of projects, some that require a clearance.
You said earlier that you have a visa not a green card. There is a difference.
I wouldn’t presume to think that you will get a green card and citizenship.
Additionally, There are lots of US students, who are citizens, who would be applying for those similar jobs.