Hi all, I have a question. And maybe it is OT. Is it possible for me, an international student, now studying in US to get a job in the game industry in US? What I mean is that does game industry (employers) prefer US citizens or they don''t care at all? Well, if you know anything about it, could you please state your opinions? Ok, thanks a lot for the time.

If you have a work visa/permit that allows to take a job with a company I don''t think they would mind at all.

I think games dev and IT period is pretty open about employees. At my development job here in the US we have a ton of foriegn workers so I wouldn''t worry about that part.

Sieggy

Some companies have a no H1B policy because H1B status has its advantages and disadvantages for both the employer and the employee. Aside from companies that do not want H1Bs I don''t see a problem getting into the industry. If you have your green card it should be even easier. Over time as the shortage of employees gets larger, one of two things will happen. The government will relax immigration standards(yeah right) and or companies will sponsor H1B status foreign workers more often. The latter is probably the more probable course. Good luck getting into the industry.

Kressilac

Something to consider: There are quite a few people that want to get into the game industry (that don''t know that much about it). The software industry in general, though, has many more openings for qualified programmers. You can probably get such a job much more easily, and with accumulated experience, move to the game industry in a year or two with ease. Then again, you can probably get a job doing games programming here, too. (Especially if you''re already studying here and have the skills that they''re looking for.)

-Brian

PS: Good luck!

If you want a job in programming, come to Australia. There is a major IT skills shortage here... I dunno about game programming though.
Good luck.

- Daniel
http://sw.mtx.net/daniel/

US game companies are very keen to hire EXPERIENCED foreign programmers - it''s the visa situation that stops this. If you have a visa that permits work, you''re laughing. Otherwise, many (if not most) companies can''t spare the time/money to sponser you through the process. It''s generally not worth their effort.

I''m currently waiting for my visa interview & then I''m off to the States

Well, I guess that is a NO for me right?

Are there anybody out there that have the same situation like me? a foreign college student (No Green card, no work Visa, just a student Visa) in US that is going to graduate soon and wanting to dive into the wonderfull world of game industry (programming)?

I would really loved to make games back home in my country, but the piracy rate is too high, and it would be impossible to make game and hope that it would sell "legally".

Dude, if you know how to code you will not have a problem finding a job whether you live in the US or in Kuwait or wherever. The main thing is to fully understand what you claim to know and to build up legitimate skills that ARE actually worth that big fat $50K/year

SPAR1

Listen, I LIVE in the U.S. and I can''t even find a programming
job. You, on other hand, as a foreign worker, WILL find a job
in the U.S., even if you know nothing about programming, because
companies want foreign workers. They don''t care what you know
or what you claim you know, all they care about is what is on
that little piece of paper you give them, your resume. All you
have to do is put on there that you got a master''s degree in
computer science from some university in your country (they will
never check on it) and some other convincing stuff and they
will want you. And of course, they don''t care if don''t understand
English very well. That''s good because then you don''t have to
verbally explain anything in detail. Just nod your head and smile
a lot. They''ll just assume you''re smart. And then all you have
to do is learn on the job while working. After 3 months, you
will know the job inside and out and they will never suspect a
thing.

And you know what the most pathetic thing is about all of this?
If U.S. companies just gave people the chance, ANYONE can do the
job in a given amount of time.

Well, I guess I''m just going to try applying for the job, and let what will happen, happen.

Thanks guys for all your feedback.