I was lucky enough to live in CA for a little over a year a few years ago, and I have to admit I really miss it having moved back the UK. When we went it was based on my wife’s occupation. Does anyone have any experience, tips, ideas, job ops which might allow me (and my family) to get back to California.
I realise this is really really off topic I figure theres a wide range of folks here from lots of different backgrounds, hopefully someone will have some exp.
Cheers,
Kev
What you want, is a nice job at Sun working on JavaFX 
- then it’s a piece of piss 8)
Cas 
Dont blame you… I left the UK about 10 years ago and havent worked there since, too cold and depressing
Do you mean Job Search Tips, or Work Permit/Visa tips? I have a British mate who moved to the US 6 months ago (Java consultant, not CA tho), he spent quite a while getting his work permit (if I remember correctly they do this once a year in the US and its not guaranteed you’ll get it, its by chance!, correct me if am wrong ppl)…
I can email him and get more info if you want…
I’d really appreciate any info you could find out.
And yes, a nice Java job in CA would be ideal, just have to wait for one of them to emmerge out of the ether though I suppose
Kev
Have just emailed him asking about US job websites, work visa stuff… If I get anything remotely useful in the response I’ll email ya (to the email address in ur profile)!..
Gd luck!
Was your daughter born in California? If so, doesn’t that make her a US citizen?
Otherwise, the H1B visa situation is pretty dire. Not sure what any other options are. Maybe you could seek political asylum or something.
:persecutioncomplex:
I don’t comprehend why you want to back though. I lived in California for a couple of years, it was horrible. Full disclosure: I lived in the Mojave desert though so ymmv.
i grew up in California and know the good areas so if you come to the point of picking between locations and jobs let me know and ill help you out. If i lived there now i would def try ato help you out in getting a job. you might want to hit up the craigslist its fairly popular in the states and look in the various countys, i suggest checking out orange county, its really expensive but the sweetest spot in California. I recommend living close or near the beach, the desert areas have been pretty hot these days.
You will probably find your jobs for programming in the orange county, LA and San Diego areas
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/ <–pretty - expensive but worth it, <–my home town is in there.
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/ <-- hispanics and blacks rivals and slummy with some really rich areas :S
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/ <–downtown is pretty, more umm hispanics, closer to the border
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/ <–never been, hippyish?
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/ <-- hippyish and gay population
http://slo.craigslist.org/ <–college town
The list of counties:
http://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/ca <–california counties
I moved over here about 8 months ago from New Zealand and am having a great time. I am living in Sunnyvale at the moment (a bit boring but otherwise good). I think the best thing about living in the bay area is the people are all pretty friendly and interesting. I think your chances of getting an H1B right now are slim to none (they have to prove they couldn’t find a US citizen to do your job).
I came over on an L1 visa (inter-company transfer) which is probably your best bet but you need to work for a multi-national company with an office in the US and UK for at least a year before they are allowed to move you over.
I work for such a company right now, but unlikely to get a transfer I would think. 
Kev
I’m in the bay area as well and it’s a great place. However best of luck with getting over here. My boss is from the UK and only just received citizenship after living here for over 20 years! Obviously citizenship isn’t exactly what you’re going for, but even so it can be tough, I think. In my opinion it’s all a bunch of BS. I would like to live in Europe for a couple years, but that’s obviously unlikely too. :-\
[quote]I would like to live in Europe for a couple years, but that’s obviously unlikely too.
[/quote]
don’t, no affence to europeans. I live in europe now and it is not wfun at all. unless of course you speak the lalnguage. then it is fine. but otherwise you are completely iscolated. unless you go to an english school. but I dont thinky oug ot o school anymore so…
Ia m gunna be the onyl person living in europe soon. (darn time difference)
btw: how many ppl ont his forum ar living in california?
Just switch homes with kev and don’t tell anyone (especially at work) :o
Where do you live right now and what’s your native language?
Have you ever considered New Zealand? I used to work at this company. Pretty boring health-care management software but they were always pretty desperate for Java programmers. Plus getting a work Visa in NZ is WAY easier.
Heh, I think probably the massively increased work output over here would tip them off that Kev was working for them instead.
And Shannon, I would totally love to live in New Zealand for a time. I won’t be doing the whole switching places thing for another few years, but I’ll certainly keep it in mind.
I live in belgium and I speak english,n no french or dutch.