Degrees, Visas, and moving to America
Hey everyone, I need some advice on Visas, and I know there are a few here who have relocated and have some in-depth knowledge on the subject.
Here's my situation;
I'm planning to move to America, or rather, I would like to, in about 3 years or so. I have two main reasons for wanting to move, one, I love the place, and two, there are far more studios offering employment than there are in the UK.
I know more studios doesn't necessarily mean more chance of me getting a job, but at least it's more places to apply to.
I'm also about to start my Animation Mentor course, and from what I have found out, the large majority of the studios their careers department work with are US based.
Ok onto where I'm at;
I'm currently doing a distance learning degree in Interior Architecture. I absolutely hate it. I started it a couple years ago when I thought I had an interest in the subject. Shortly after starting it I realised how wrong I was. The sole reason I've continued to do it is to support my visa application later. I couldn't care less about having the actual degree, and I sure as hell don't plan to use any knowledge I've picked up from it.
Now I just found out I have a lot more of it left than I thought, like 18 months more. And I'm really ready to just pull out to focus my time on other things.
Problem is, I've heard a degree is necessary to get a visa to work in the US. Is this true? Are there exceptions? Also, my fiancee is keen to move too, and I wouldn't move without her. Does she need to apply as an individual, with her own degree and an offer of work?
The idea was to find a job myself, and her find a job when we get there, but she doesn't have a degree, only a HND which is like the first year of a degree.
I'd love to know how it works, and any advice you guys have because if there's any way I can pull out of this degree, I'd be happy to hear it.
Here's my situation;
I'm planning to move to America, or rather, I would like to, in about 3 years or so. I have two main reasons for wanting to move, one, I love the place, and two, there are far more studios offering employment than there are in the UK.
I know more studios doesn't necessarily mean more chance of me getting a job, but at least it's more places to apply to.
I'm also about to start my Animation Mentor course, and from what I have found out, the large majority of the studios their careers department work with are US based.
Ok onto where I'm at;
I'm currently doing a distance learning degree in Interior Architecture. I absolutely hate it. I started it a couple years ago when I thought I had an interest in the subject. Shortly after starting it I realised how wrong I was. The sole reason I've continued to do it is to support my visa application later. I couldn't care less about having the actual degree, and I sure as hell don't plan to use any knowledge I've picked up from it.
Now I just found out I have a lot more of it left than I thought, like 18 months more. And I'm really ready to just pull out to focus my time on other things.
Problem is, I've heard a degree is necessary to get a visa to work in the US. Is this true? Are there exceptions? Also, my fiancee is keen to move too, and I wouldn't move without her. Does she need to apply as an individual, with her own degree and an offer of work?
The idea was to find a job myself, and her find a job when we get there, but she doesn't have a degree, only a HND which is like the first year of a degree.
I'd love to know how it works, and any advice you guys have because if there's any way I can pull out of this degree, I'd be happy to hear it.
Replies
http://www.workpermit.com/us/employee.htm
The short answer is, you need a relevant degree or a ton of experience.
Also, I hope it can help me earn some money so I can move out and upgrade my hardware regularly etc. All I have are a netbook and an iPod touch right now and I still live with my parents lol f**k the moment I decided to go to the technical university
EDIT: BTW, there's this college in Toronto whose certificate programs help you get a work visa even if you don't have a job offer. It costs about 10K if I remember correctly:
http://www.senecac.on.ca/
maybe you can find a similar college in the US?
You would be suprised how relevant this exact kind of degree is to making computer games.
http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72320
It sounds like a really tough thing to do, and I wish you the best of luck with it.
One of our concept artists is an architect, here on a visa, so I'd say stick with your program and finish it. 18 months isn't so long.
I'm currently doing an internship here in denmark in the arch viz where I'm actually working full time while getting my education(which is either a level under or equal to a high school degree I'm not mistaken), when I'm done I have 2,5 years of work experience together with a 2,5 year long education, anyone know how this will work with a visa?
Nice link to Gav's write-up too, I hadn't seen that.
So in terms of the degree, is it simply a case of having one, or does it matter who awarded it?
The thing is, as I mentioned, I do my degree in my own time at home, using correspondence via post and email. The reason I do it this way is because I was 24 when I started, and had already been working (in Arch-Viz, not Games or Animation) for a few years and the idea of dropping the salary and going back to study full time on student funding was neither appealing or even feasible.
So would that type of degree be considered in the same way? I mean, it's awarded by the same people, the course is validated by the same universities, the only difference is I do it in my own time, at home, rather than go to lectures on a campus etc.
I just went through this all trying to go from Canada to the U.S - it's a lot of work and a lot of processing information. I didn't have a degree, and my 3 year course 'counts' but i need industry experience to go with it (and currently only have a few months so i need to wait). It's a bit of a hassle.
I do know the UK is getting bigger in the gaming market, even to just get industry freelance will help you also to get across the border.
your fiancee will need a work visa if she plans to work, if you're married i do believe she can get a special permit to enter the country however she can't work.
You need a degree, 18 months to get that piece of paper will be very handy if you plan on moving to the U.S. Seriously, do it.
I'm not sure what it's like in the UK, but here in Canada you have two types of universities, privately owned or ones that are government supported (i forget the actual main difference, ones supported by the province/area and one is owned by an individual i do believe is how it works). I know degrees and such from privately owned schools can be a hassle with immigration to the U.S. as well, however it doesn't seem to always be the case.
(They really need to change some things with work visa's, to help people trying to work in the game dev. industry be able to work a little more easily. Even to update the types of employment you are going for list would be nice!)
It's pretty sad but right now they still after all these years just have 'graphic design' under employment types in the U.S., when animation and game development have been continually growing, especially in the last 10 years. I do believe game dev., anmation, tv show, etc this industry falls under graphic design, or can.
Hope this helps, gav's poll is good too, and also you can also call the U.S. embacy/immigration for answers too. I'm sure there's some in England, as there are in Canada or to even call the immigration in the states directly (it'll cost a bit but at least it'll be first hand 100% information).
good luck! it's a toughy but if you're sure, just need a bit of work on your end to do, but definitely get that degree. It's near impossible otherwise (not 100% but incredibly difficult, time consuming, etc).