Ask HN: going to USA
I'm from Argentina and the next year I'll have some free time that I would like to spend going to USA. My idea is to stay there for about 1-3 months. The reasons are:
-For fun.
-Know about a different culture.
-Improve my english skills.
-Meet interesting people.
But going there isn't cheap because our currency is devaluated and $4(four pesos) = u$s1(one dollar). So in order to go there, I'll have to work at some place.
I would like to know if there are some companies/startups that hires people like me to work temporarily. I'm a beginner Python/Django programmer and studying Engineering Systems(4th year).
There are programs that make something like this, but I don't like the jobs that they offer to do.
So I ask you guys if this is possible or if I'm crazy.
Thanks a lot, Mariano.
39 comments
[ 2.6 ms ] story [ 72.2 ms ] threadWithout legal permission to work in the U.S., you will find it extraordinarily difficult to find reputable employment.
I would counsel against illegal employment -- when I was young and stupid I worked on a cash basis for a man who "didn't want none of that OSHA paperwork nonsense", and I was forced to quit the job after he threw a 20 lb. pipe at my head. (Cleaning oil pipeline components with a toothbrush is, by the way, every bit as fun as it sounds.)
Have you considered applying for a "study abroad" program in the US? If you get accepted, then you will be able to work limited hours on-campus (and potentially off-campus as part of your studies).
So this means that if in the future I apply for Ycombinator and the application is accepted, I won't be able to participate because of the visa issues.
[Edit: removed stuff about the Schengen area]
Jobs aside, I've loved the last two years I've spent here in Ireland. The people are lovely, as is the country itself. Still on the expensive side, but we're having price corrections along with the recession. :-)
Edit: I couldn't reply so Ill explain here. OPT is Optional Practical Training, it is what F1 visa holders(full time students) can do. We are able to stay for 29 months after graduation, to work in the field we studied for in order to get practical training.
EDIT: Section 7.2.1 specifically.
Careful there. It's almost certainly not. Unless you're just a "brain" doing meetings only, you'd almost certainly be doing something that could be considered "work" and it doesn't matter if you're not being paid.
From my understanding you could do it, because foreigners are allowed to own or start U.S. corporations. I'm not sure how much work on the project you would have to do at home versus here, though.
Get your papers in order, get on a plane and come. Nevermind the naysayers, just do it. There are 2 kinds of people in the world- talkers and doers. Be a doer! Best of luck, I applaud your ambition.
Edit: Also, if you're just going to be there for a few months, check out CouchSurfing. I've made friends with people from dozens of countries there and it's a great way to travel.
But you couldn't get paid by a US office - it would have to be your Argentinian employer paying you and in their interest to have you here for business meetings (of course the US office could reimburse the foreign office for expenses, but now your salary) - that effectively means you will need to interact with a US office of the company you work for in Argentina (or an associated firm, e.g. in the case of the Big Four).
If you come for "business meetings" you should be ready to demonstrate such.
B2 visa = tourism or family visit.
The only way you could earn money legally is to get a H1 visa or come as a temporary work force (can't remember the visa name).
What you could do is:
- employed by foreign company
- visit US for MEETINGS with colleagues at a US firm - come up with an agenda (of course you can code during your month here)
- your work cannot be directly FOR a US firm
- the US firm cannot pay you a wage/salary
- the US firm can reimburse your foreign employer for travel/accommodation to/from/in the US, who in turn would presumably cover your expenses while here.
The operative word is "meeting" as opposed to sitting in a cubicle and cranking out code.
What I outlined above is a very common occurrence. Many companies have foreign staff (or staff from foreign associated companies / partners) come in for business meetings.
*edit: i don't know if anyone else is reading this thread, but references for a trustworthy lawyer who can discuss a specific situation via email would be welcome.
It's also legal to have a business in Argentina, be an employee of that company, and come to the US to do consulting. I've never figured out exactly how legal it is, but the fact that so many companies, large and small, do this means if it's illegal it must not be very illegal. Every country allows employees to come in and do some work on tourist visas, otherwise each economy would freeze up.
For example, I was a software guy working on a hardware device being produced in China. I ended up going over and spending a week doing integration. On a tourist visa. I was working the entire time, as did all the taiwanese who came over to work with me. There was never a question of anyone getting work visas. I suspect that what we all did was illegal, but it's a gray area and I'm not a lawyer.
The dodge there is we were working for our individual companies, in china, instead of working directly for a chinese company. I've never seen a law that specifies the amount of work where "contracting in country" turns into "employed in country". Not that I know. There's a practical limit, in that at some point an official notices and you get in hot water. I suppose. China's a big country and there are only so many officials. I've done that kind of thing for weeks at a time; no one ever notices at that length.
Couch surfing can be rather pleasant. I've got an empty in-law apartment and a pile of code to write, but I'm writing code this month and next, and don't know if that'll be true past then. You will meet people, you'll learn things. You'll be paid in pizza, red bull, and experience.
If you have a friend with an Argentine-based consulting company, or you can find an Argentine-based consulting company, and say you'll drum up the business when you're in the US but you'll need them to get paid, they'd probably shrug and say "sure", although they'll want to keep part of your paycheck.
Regarding whether you can be part of YC, you should be able to start a company, pick up YC funding, and pay yourself out of the YC funding with a tourist visa. Establishing a corporation provides added ammunition in case you go in front of a judge, where claiming a sole proprietorship looks more like a visa dodge.
What you'll start realizing as you grow older is there's a difference between "management" and "workers". Management gets exceptions. Workers get the shaft. Management is invited across borders, workers are stopped and searched. The largest difference between management and workers is what you call yourself, and how you present yourself.
That's the filter they'll apply to get your US visa in the first place. You have to show enough money to support yourself for the time you'll be here. That's about the same as asking if you're "management" or a "worker".
Sounds annoying to me - if you've got an EU passport, why not just go to the EU? The exchange rate is worse is all. I might recommend Portugal. The country is very polyglot (I was in an office there doing integration and everyone switched to English for me, and they had some UK people in) and there's a number of tech businesses in Lisbon.
Do travel with one nice sports coat and a pair of good shoes, and smile a lot.
If you still want to do it (illegally), which I would strongly recommend against, no legit company will ever hire you, because you will not be able to show the requirement documentation to prove that you're legally allowed to work in the United States. In order for you to get around that hurdle, you'd have to acquire the documents illegally. Or work for a company that hires illegal immigrants.
It's a very bad idea.