Hi, I (30M colombian) am currently finishing my PhD (psychometrics) in the Netherlands and I will start a postdoc position in the US next year.
From what I understand, I will get a J1 visa, which might allow me to stay in the US up to 5 years if my postdoc appointment gets extended. Then, in case I find a position as assistant professor, I can get a H1b visa, which can be valid for up to 6 years.
What I want to know is how does it really work? Has somebody here gone through this process of making a career in academia as an immigrant? Is it even possible to get the green card at some point? Or are you always with temporary visas?
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You can go directly from an H1-B to a green card if the university is willing to sponsor you. You would ask before accepting the position. It’s normal that they would sponsor.
Immigrant professors are very, very common. Assuming you’re STEM, there are probably several in the department where you’re doing your post doc and the university certainly has resources for this. Talk to your colleagues. Talk to the people who are handling your visa at the university, it’s probably exactly the same people who handle H1-Bs and green card sponsorships.
I would say that the actual majority of my professors (as undergrad) were foreign-born.
Most of my math teachers during college were born abroad. There’s a special visa category for professionals who hold advanced degrees or those with “exceptional” ability.
Talk with your department!
My wife is a PhD (not foreign, but with a lot of foreign colleagues) in academic research.
It is really common for post docs to stay and departments have really experienced people than can help you. You can absolutely get a green card but it depends on what you want to do after your post doc. You can also get an H1B. You can also get a EB-2 which is for people with “exceptional ability” (basically an advanced degree). It has to be for a job that requires an advanced degree but if you are doing a post-doc I assume all your job options will require a PhD.
If you are planning on getting into academia you also need to talk with the university hiring you. They will help you as well.
That is going to be much better than random advice from reddit.
Ask other postdocs. Many I know did the EB2 visa route after they postdoced for a couple of years.
It all comes down to tenure if university offer that to you they will sponsor you for permanent residency card as well. Good Luck.
Keep in mind here there is usually a 2 year rule with the J1 visa, you need to return to your home country for 2 years before immigrating. The thought here is that we will educate you and facilitate your future career, but we do not want to deprive other nations, especially developing ones, of your talent.
There is a waiver available though.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange/waiver-of-the-exchange-visitor.html
Based on my years in college, yes, as most of my engineering and mathematics professors were immigrants, primarily from Asia.
I know from experience that a lot of people who are immigrants have gone straight from H1-B to a green card to citizenship and work in academia, Professors or otherwise. It seems that universities are very willing to hire immigrants
Bearer of bad news reporting in.
The US faculty job market is horrible for most fields, with some exceptions being computer science, nursing, maybe engineering. So take some time to find out how the job market is in your niche and research area. In theory, the H1B is for fields without enough qualified Americans, and if there are 100 applicants for each opening in your field, then your chances are not good for getting hired as faculty. So have a very strong Plan B and Plan C.
You’ll want to speak with HR at the school, this is a common situation, they’ll have the most specific answers