Systems Analyst TN without degrees or.. anything?

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flotsamb

Registered Users (C)
I'm in a weird situation and I was hoping to get some advice. I'm a musician by training (I have a masters degree from a big NYC school), and am currently in the US on an O-1 visa (I'm Canadian).

I've also always been a big computer geek, and have a considerable amount of knowledge on computer systems and networks, to the point that someone recommended me for a position at a major NYC hospital who needed a systems administrator with a particular type of expertise, which I have. They interviewed me, tested me, and while skeptical at the beginning, were sufficiently impressed and have offered me the job of Senior Systems Analyst. At the same time, I'm feeling burned out on music, and would like to try something different. It seems like a perfect opportunity.

Problem is, i have no 'official' computer related credentials at all, aside from 1 year of freshman CompSci. My degrees are all in Music, and my computer knowledge is extensive but self taught, through it being a serious hobby for almost 10 years.

My research tells me a TN is not an option because of this. However, the head of immigration at the medical center claims that it should be 'no problem'... i have degrees, it doesn't matter what they are in, it should work out.

I'm skeptical, and worried, because if i cross the border and try to re-enter on a TN and get denied, i'm kind of screwed.


Has anyone heard of such a situation? I have none of the proper qualifications for a Computer Systems Analyst TN visa, yet the medical center has offered me the job and claim that the visa should be approved. Are they crazy, or is there something i don't know. The only thing i could think of is that they are a major institution, and maybe that makes a difference?

It is certainly frustrating to feel that you are well qualified for a job, but can't prove it to someone at the border because of a lack of papers...


Thanks,

r
 
I should add that they are supposed to give me my TN letter tomorrow, so i will try to clarify these issues with the head of immigration at HR, but i would really like to get some other opinions, especially since, when it comes down to it, HR is not looking out for me exactly... they want to hire me, but I'll be the one taking the risk by crossing the border with a possibly useless TN application..
 
It will never fly.

Your best bet is to try for a scientific technician and see if you can make that fly.

You will have to show that you are going to be a technician maintaining the computer system int he hospital. The one year of comp-sci should work (assuming meant comp-sci was the major and you took calculus or something like that etc.), but you are going to have to highlight your classes as they relate to the job. You will probably need letters from people who are familiar with some of your work if available. I don't see how the hospital thinks this could work.
 
I was a science major that year so i have first year math (including calculus), physics, etc.

I'm pretty sure they were planning to try to get me in as a computer systems analyst, since that's what the job offer letter says, but I will bring this up with them tomorrow. My job will indeed be maintaining the computer systems in the research labs of the hospital, so scientific technician does seem to make sense though.

Thanks,

r
 
Alright, so here's the deal. If you have the science background then you should be good. The way the letter should be written is that you are being hired as a scientific technician to perform analysis of computer systems and testing of networks blah, blah, blah. The letter needs to be slanted very technically and show how you will support the hardware, software and any engineering personnel (hopefully there is one on staff). This is supposed to be a support position (think of it as the technician in a lab who performs the blood tests). I had to do it like this and I too do not have a specific technical degree.
 
Thanks. To be clear, i was in science that year, but transferred to Music after that, so whether or not i actually have a 'science background' is somewhat up to interpretation. Do you think it would still work?

ie. I have a bit over 1 year of science credits, and my degree is in Music..
 
You're not going to use the music degree at all. You need to read up on the scientific technician category. There is no need for a degree or diploma but the person must prove that they possess the skills and theoretical knowledge to perform the job. DO NOT use you final music degree or you will be turned away. Use the one year of comp-sci to show the academic part and then letters from others that know of your work.
 
Letters of work experience will be useful to have to show you have the experience for what you are stating you will be doing.
 
I will try to get those, even if it was unpaid work.

I spoke to one of the lawyers in the immigration dept of HR today, and she seemed honest and on-the-ball. Basically she said there were two likely pitfalls - one was that i've lived in the US for 8 years, and have been on an O-1 visa, so the 'not intending to live in the US' requirement for the TN looked a bit sketchy. The second was the issue i was concerned about here, that my education is fairly tenuously related to my prospective job.
The good news was she thought there was a good chance it would be approved, although she agknowledged a siginificant chance it would be rejected.

Apparently they would normally try for an H1 in my case, since that allows me to stay in the US while they hammer it out with immigration, but my boss had been pressuring them to get me approved ASAP so i could start work, and the TN seemed risky but potentially fast.

She said that she would do some research and try to find out the consequences of me getting a TN denied... would i likely be stuck in Canada for much time, or not. If not, i'd be willing to try it to appease the boss, and who knows, i might be lucky. If it is going to screw with my getting back into the US, however, perhaps not...
 
Second Option,

Send it in by mail and pay an extra $ 1,000 for premium processing. You fill out an I-129 and I don't really think will go into your background too much in terms of time here on an "O".

Did you do much computer stuff related to your music? IE: ProTools etc. You might be able to leverage that as part of your experience if they were ever to relate what you did in the past relative to the job today.

Do you have somewhere I can send an email, and I'll send you a sample of my offer letter.
 
thanks simsd, and sorry for not replying. There has been a bit of development. I spoke to the lawyers at the hospital and to my (hopefully future) boss, I explained my concerns about the TN getting denied and me getting stuck in Canada, and they've agreed to try of an H1 visa instead. It takes longer and costs more, but is less risk for me since if it's denied I just stay put on my current visa.. so hopefully it's either new visa and new job, or status quo.
 
I hate to bust your bubble, but all of the H1's are gone for this year. They come out every April and for the last three years they have been going faster and faster. There are only 58,000 available for people with a bachelor's degree or equivalent.

2004 - All gone by October 31.
2005 - All gone by August 10
2006 - All gone by May 24.
2007 - All gone by April 2 (yes two days - they received something like 122,000 applications.

So now if you want an H, you will need to wait until April 1, 2008. In addition to this, you will have to show that you have the equivalent of a bachelor's degree in the specific area you will be working in.

BTW....even if you get an H1 it wouldn't kick in until October 1 2008.

Better regroup and try for the scientific technician under TN.
 
flotsamb said:
i've lived in the US for 8 years, and have been on an O-1 visa, so the 'not intending to live in the US' requirement for the TN looked a bit sketchy.
Click to expand...

You're right not to be concerned with this one. Although TN status does not allow for immigrant intent, the only physical proof of immigrant intent is a pending I-485. Unless you tell the officer that you intned to remain in the US more than just temporarily, then you won't have a problem.
 
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