I'm in tennessee, working as a cad engineer in analog VLSI lab and taking phd... actually US is loosing its relative attractive compensation as compare to asia.. asia is slowly picking up now interm of engineering compensation... i used to work as design engineer in malaysia b4 and compare to staff engineer and above level between US and asia... where asia is nearly half of the pay of US equivalent engineer. But to sharpen the technical competency, i still think US is a good place so far as more technical opportunity then.

u r getting f1 visa rite? its not allowed to work off campus tho... 20 hours / week is for on campus job assignment. for break u are allowed for 40 hours / week only on internship basis... for phd candidate, u can easily get 30-50 / hour pay in engineering field... Recently they are going to pass new immigration bill, if the bill able to pass, new f4 visa will be implemented which allow for off campus job and green card conversion after graduation but only restricted to science, computing and engineering field.

without getting a degree in US is very very tough to get h1b visa. As h1b visa is only open for application each year at april 1st. with limited quota, 65K application quota and extra 20K for post grad. 2008, all of the quota was filled up within a day. for those guy have a degree in US, they have chance to wait for application at least by using OPT for 1 year. This year onward, for science and engineering background, u will have 2 1/2 years to work under OPT while waiting for the h1B pertition. So gravity, without OPT, how are you going to work and wait months or a year to get your h1B application... small company definitely won't do it for u. but next year they going to introduce adjustable ceiling for h1b quota.. Unless your company apply L1 visa, but that, u are still on your local based. or you are soooo strong technically that your company in malaysia willing to transfer u to US and apply h1b visa for u... but i think that have to be at least at principle engineer level....

Munny, better think it far k? what if you been caught? next time when u apply for HIB u might not able to pass the background screening.. do you think that is worth by trade off your future prospect just to earn $10/hour? Why don't u get a on-campus job which is more useful on your field of studying and u can write that into your resume if u r hit it right. can you write in your resume in future that u wash plate? But i know the US senate is going to pass the new immigration bill which will allow foreign student to do offcampus job in future...

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Added on May 10, 2008, 11:33 amYup, i think getting a job in UK or australia at this moment can be easier than in US. However their technology is not as strong as in US. If you are a technologist, US still a best place, at least my x-colleague in UK is seeking help from us to help them build a silicon ROIC (readout IC) as they can't find expert over there.. So in other word, more money u can make here compare to other place

This post has been edited by ibmsege: May 10 2008, 11:39 AM

[quote=Munny,May 10 2008, 02:23 PM]
[quote=ibmsege,May 10 2008, 12:28 PM]
Munny, better think it far k? what if you been caught? next time when u apply for HIB u might not able to pass the background screening.. do you think that is worth by trade off your future prospect just to earn $10/hour? Why don't u get a on-campus job which is more useful on your field of studying and u can write that into your resume if u r hit it right. can you write in your resume in future that u wash plate? But i know the US senate is going to pass the new immigration bill which will allow foreign student to do offcampus job in future...

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Added on May 10, 2008, 11:33 am

Job on campus does not feed me, I am working to pay my tuition and daily expenses. I am PROUD to say my parents DID NOT send a penny to fund my degree here......I told you I got paid cash here, my name is not written on the bill, it's sign by the Treasury Secretary , not me. by the way, I do no even have a Social Security number, who's gonna get me?
by the way, on campus job is stupid and you do not learn about REAL american society. if you are working outside in the office, you get to see a lot more....Medical is a huge field, I am dealing with doctors, patients, drug companies rep, research request, pharmacist, ...... This is real knowledge,
btw, i'm in health science.
I ain't trying to be cocky here, but they is more than one way to skin a cat, choose how to live your life.

[/quote]

Yup， i agree theres lotz way to skin a cat, but provided according to the rule and regulation. You may be lucky and smart enuff not being caught... but can u be that lucky forever? My exp in semiconductor industry, do tell me that never take things for granted, 1 very small mistake might ruin everything.. and i think should be the same for other industry... BTW, don't say working on campus job is stupid.. job on campus doesn't feed u? don't u know if you work on campus for at least 10hours/week your tuition fee is waived. i worked in industry and in campus b4.. real knowledge is everywhere.. else some one won't leave the industry and return to school for nothing... its all depend on your wisdom to exp it...

sure not... give me your cell number.. i will call you... k.. just an advice... you decide your future...

i think nomatter where u stay, there is a fortune for u no matter in US? kampong melayu? or kampong chinaman..hehe .... btw, working in US is no more as attractive as few years ago... in terms of compensation, lotz of places in asia is almost on par compare to US... What i refer here is proffesional job... if u talk about hourly pay job, asia is still bad... so just go ahead and sharpen your skill, you will be highly demand everywhere..

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Added on May 11, 2008, 3:43 amyup, dreamer..agree with u.. maybe i already an old man... i not encourage ppl to work illegally regardless of where u r.. as it might ruin your future prospect... ppl will honor you of being work so hard tru a proper channel...

This post has been edited by ibmsege: May 11 2008, 03:43 AM

yup, for me here r more opportunity than in malaysia. but it can be the other way for some ppl..as u say HIGHLY　dependent on individual circumstances

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Added on May 11, 2008, 7:56 amnope, i'm from a normal family.. ok then..no big deal.. i don't wish to make this become so hot.. but i thought by working oncampus at least 10hours/week..u can get tuition fee waived for all the places in US... then maybe i'm wrong..


This post has been edited by ibmsege: May 11 2008, 07:56 AM

so u mean i'm nerd?? haha,,, maybe... there got to be someone to complete the social roles rite.. but engineer here can earn big money by doing technology transfer... that is the opportunity here and i aim on it.

yup, my bachelor degree in malaysia. so dreamer, what is your professional?

This post has been edited by ibmsege: May 11 2008, 10:24 AM

[quote=paulljl,May 24 2008, 12:28 AM]
[quote=KayKayJay,May 23 2008, 05:07 PM]
Ooo, but then why did SeLrAhC say that OPT can pay my tuition fee alone when you said that it is only around US$250? My tuition fee is around RM90000 per year and I have to study there for 2 years.

Well, if I can get a job that is related to my major, why not? But most probably I don't think it will happen. So, even if I go for other jobs, if the pay is reasonable, why not? haha. Plus in my mind, everything revolves around chemicals, so why not chemical engineering? I am also considering doing research on combating glabal warming (some chemical that can counter the greenhouse gases perhaps?) because I personally like doing research.

Oh, yea, I kinda do think way ahead of time. Haha. But yea, I know an engineering degree, coupled with an MBA can open many doors.

So Paul, in the States according to your experience, are chemical engineers viable there?
Maybe I didnt get my message clear. The application for OPT is around $200. As for the OPT pay, it depend where or whom you work for. Since OPT only happens after graduation, working under OPT is considered a full-time job. And while you are working under OPT, you should hope your company will sponsor you for H-1 B visa in order for you continue working in USA after your OPT expire.

Viable as in opportunity and pay? Chemical engineering is among the highest pay among all engineering (for fresh graduates). Average is about 55k to 60k annually. And since oil cost so much now, the energy industry is pretty hot. So i say chem eng is viable in the states.

Research as a job? Most companies prefer post-graduates for those positions. Masters is ok, but phd is much better. I liked doing research while studying in college, but i doubt i like doing it as a job.
sorry for any confusion.
Paul

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Added on May 24, 2008, 12:39 amAh! I made a mistake.
Kay, you need to work in a field related to your major in order for the company to apply for H-1B visa. Not OPT.
I believe you could work at any job with an OPT, including washing bowls at Chinese restaurants, since OPT means you can legally stay in USA for the given duration. But the restaurants cannot sponsor you H-1 B because the job is not related to your major.
Paul

[/quote]


In US i think more RnD job than others, but u got to have post-grad degree... RnD job need at least postgrad degree in US... and BIG companies have their own quota when filing H1B petition for their employee. If you able to get in to those big company ( intel, ibm, TI analog device bla bla), more or less u r guaranteed for a H1B. btw, 18months extension of OPT only applicable to science and engineering student and only few companies are able to do that.

This post has been edited by ibmsege: May 24 2008, 06:13 AM

master is ok.. company like intel have more than 1/2 of its rnd stuff with master qualification.. L1 visa basically is for relocation package.. overall u r still under home site compensation..

oh no.. u got to know what is RnD.. no research there is no development.. company like intel and IBM is leading the industry in semiconductor process.. for example, a high end cmos process design like 45nm took 2 years for research, another 2-3 years for development then 1-2 years for production... Their research ground work is very strong.. but u can say their design center outside of US is more to design and development...

better get a post-grad, then only work...the compensation can be very big diff... and better career opportunity...

no..go and read the previous post... u should be independent enuff to dig the info from old post..don't be so lazy... lazy bug cannot survive in US...

go for vlsi design... but not half tong one... need to be very strong in analog stuff else digital architecture...rf wise go for rfic... else lesser opportunity in US...

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Added on June 22, 2008, 4:31 amnot because of face2face problem also... postgrad degree in malaysia..sometimes is not "famous" enuff in US that enable u to have a technical job opportunity here.. unless u have very great technical career achievement and u have built some career network in US... forexample u know the US manager very well...etc etc...


This post has been edited by ibmsege: Jun 22 2008, 04:31 AM

haha, i can house u if u r in Tennessee.. but got to sleep on the couch.

yup, that definitely the best for fresh bachelor...

its almost impossible for you to work in US some more with UK degree... US company is pretty arrogant with their education system. somemore now, hire an international guy is extremely difficult... unless with very good experience and skill related to the work....

Just change job and location a year ago

Sacramento, CA - Sr. Design Engineer, $120K per annum