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Working in New York

Hi,

Having recently graduated in June gaining Part 2 RIBA exemption, I am keen to go and work abroad to broaden my horizons and understanding of the world etc... and I am really interested in going to in New York.

From what I can muster from PEDR, in order for my experience towards Part3 to count, it has to be 12 months of UK based experience, which is all fine and well. But what if I don't want this time in New York to count towards my Part3? I dont envisage myself going for part3 for the next 2-3 years anyway, regardless of working in the UK or not.

I suppose what im asking is, has anyone got any experience in this specific situation? Is there anything stopping me (apart from all the legal VISA/Green Card things which are a given) from just going out there maybe with some pre-organised interviews etc... and 'getting a job' like you'd expect to in the UK, i,e; apply, get interview, get job, start...hopefully enjoy! I am concerned with the fact I am 'graduated' but not qualified, so do people at my level get taken on my firms in New York/USA?

What would be the best way of going about approaching architects in New York? I feel, hypothetically speaking, if I worked for Nick Grimshaw in London, I could achieve a possible transfer to their New York office... or any other firms more accessible to me in the UK who have links to New York.

I can't be the only person who has tried to do this so there must be a way, so please, any help and advice would be great.

Cheers

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mbs

As someone who did the opposite direction I can tell you a few things. The visa issue is not a given in as much as it's critical. One, it will be very hard for you to get a job as a recent graduate with no experience when they will need to sponsor you for a work permit (H1-B visa). This is a difficult process for employers in the US, not relatively simple like here, and there are so many like you without visa issues, so what sets you apart? If you go on a tourist visa in order to find a job you could find yourself in trouble with immigration, and furthermore, you should check that you don't have to leave the US in order to get your visa changed to the H1-B. Otherwise your strategy for approaching firms would be similar to here, send resumes (not 'CVs') and cover letters, and follow up. If they think you're not in country I doubt they'd give you a second look so get a local address or go over there, quietly! When I tried to get a job before coming here, nobody wanted to talk to me because A)I was not in country, B)I had no UK experience, and C)No visa. It took many months before I finally found something. That said, I once worked with someone who got a job from the States with no experience and no visa and she wasn't even in the UK! Ultimately, it's about knocking on doors and showing that you're different than everyone else, and convincing one person to jump the visa hoops for you. You can be a little more forward than here in your approach.

Yes people like you are taken on at firms, like Part I/II assistants here, everybody has to start somewhere.

One thing to remember about the H1-B visa. There are only 50,000 or so issued under a capping system, which is why everyone came here. They are first come, first serve, so they usually are gone by April-June.

As far as PEDR is concerned I think you can count some experience from abroad but you'll have to confirm that. The process is pretty similar to here generally anyway. If you don't want it to count, then don't count it.

I have heard that inter-company transfers are pretty unlikely as a general rule, especially at the junior level. I think that's more of a risk then trying on your own.

Good luck!

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