G'day awesome peoples, I wanted to make a post that both chin-wags and asks some questions to fellow gamedev.net peoples. I'm hoping to draw on the experience and musings of you guys. :) So what's this post all about? Well, As a young game designer I've began a mighty quest to seek adventure in a new land and to find a job in professional game development overseas. Currently an Australian resident, I have just over two years experience in the professional game development scene as a level designer. My reasons for wishing to work aboard are purely adventurous and to work and live in an new environment. The Australian industry is an awesome place to operate, but being 22 I'd like to explore a bit of the world. :D Of course however, immigration and work visas for game designers like me can be a tricky thing. A designer like myself was self taught and learned most of my current skills from my previous game dev workplace. and as it stands I have no after-highschool education, A tricky and large strike against immigration chances to anywhere it seems and that's fair enough. So I'll explain my plan and what I've found out so far, And perhaps some of you guys can offer advice or musings. :) I'm currently working on a large-scale design folio project. When this project finishes in November I'll be using it as a folio to showcase my professional design abilities. I have confidence that by the end of this folio I'll be able to present a perspective UK, USA or Canadian studio to sponsor a work visa and take me on as a young, enthusiastic Australian gameplay designer. Also helps that I'm willing to pay for relocation costs. :D So my plan would be to get them to sponsor me for a temporary skilled work visa. From taking the general tests from the website Migration Expert I currently qualify for the following: USA: EB-3 VISA - SKILLED WORKER - This is on the consensus that I both have an employment sponsor and my 2 years previous experience in the same sector. Which is game development. UK: YOUTH MOBILITY SCHEME (TIER 5) On the consensus that I have a employment sponsor and just the fact I'm currently 22 years old. This visa isn't to hard to obtain. CANADA: FAIL! Due to having no credible education past high-school, I am currently under the basic requirements for immigration for skilled workers into Canada. Game development is also not listed as a high need job, which strikes another blow. This brings me to a question about immigration for people in these sorts of creative industries, I don't condone the requirements for these visas, they're quite fair and logical to ask for higher education. But I think for my odd position as a game designer and being in Australia where there is no game design specific courses that go to a bachelors degree I'm in a tough place, [I'm also not to keen on the idea of further education as I could just as well spend the time racking up more experience in the Australian game dev scene.] Is there anything I can do to prove my professional abilities to government immigration systems like Canada as so to be considered for a company sponsored temporary work visa at the very least? It's a tricky question I know. I was wondering if anyone has encountered such a situation or similar immigration experience. I would hate to cut off an entire country of opportunity just because I don't have a credited education past high-school. What do you guys think? Cheers, Chris Watts Game Designer Game Design Project: Tower City Summery: Immigration Pros: - Young, 22 years old. - Experienced. 2 years industry experience. - Will obtain a work sponsor before applying. - Nationally - Australians are generally well received in immigration processing. Immigration Cons: - Lack of accredited education. - Only spoken language is English. [Canada likes it if you speak some French.] - Occupation is not one that's critically needed. [Edited by - DesignerWatts on April 24, 2009 10:25:40 AM]

If you can get a company to hire you in Canada, then I'm fairly sure you can get in for a time on just a work permit. You can also try getting in as a student, and then do the extra paperwork to work off campus. I know several students from overseas that are doing just that, and one is now deciding to stay. (They qualify for some program now that they have a degree and a job on a work permit.)

But to do any of that, you may need to wait longer while you try to find someone that will hire you. Try looking up studios on the east coast, east of Montreal, the local governments here have been pouring money into the sector so we have lots of small start ups, and living costs are lower. (On the down side, night life options tend to suck.)

Cananda's ruling that you need a degree is going to be pretty hard to get around. While there may be few game development specific degrees in Australia, as a designer degrees in a variety of fields could be very beneficial for you - Computer Science, Psychology, Sociology, English, Architectures, Animation, etc.

The US offers limited numbers of Visas and you have to make yourself mighty attractive to a company, because the application process is very long and requires some expenditure by the company. At two years of experience, few company will be willing to put the effort into it (though I imagine there will be exceptions). The US game industry recently recently had a LOT of lay-offs, so you'll find yourself competing with people who have considerable more experience than you who are willing to take more junior positions just to have a job.

I can't really comment on UK. :)

Thank you for the advice. I'll look into these options as well. Studying aboard would be tons of fun if I could afford such a thing. :)

If I went the way of a part time-student/worker it would have to be self payable or at the least done by a deferred loan. I unfortunately can't rely on anyone else to pay for my experiences other then my own pay.

Still, Thank you for this info. :D

Quote: Original post by Talroth
If you can get a company to hire you in Canada, then I'm fairly sure you can get in for a time on just a work permit. You can also try getting in as a student, and then do the extra paperwork to work off campus. I know several students from overseas that are doing just that, and one is now deciding to stay. (They qualify for some program now that they have a degree and a job on a work permit.)

But to do any of that, you may need to wait longer while you try to find someone that will hire you. Try looking up studios on the east coast, east of Montreal, the local governments here have been pouring money into the sector so we have lots of small start ups, and living costs are lower. (On the down side, night life options tend to suck.)

The point out of getting a bachelors in another subject is quite valid. doing something in animation would be great fun.

Unfortunately I don't currently live in a economic standing to study for a long period of time. And if it came to the fruition at the end of this design folio project that it still wasn't enough to get a job aboard I'd probably just go back to doing a few more years of Australian game development until it tips in favour of exceeding abroad dev studios requirements.

As for Americas current job situation, I understand this as well. I used to work for THQ who have cut down their workforce by 600 people. I'm trying to apply my skills and abilities to create a compelling portfolio. But you are correct, I'm up against others who are easier to hire and employ.

I'm going on a bet that this project I'm working on gains enough steam to make an exception for me. :)

Thanks for your comments. All good advice!

Quote: Original post by zer0wolf
Cananda's ruling that you need a degree is going to be pretty hard to get around. While there may be few game development specific degrees in Australia, as a designer degrees in a variety of fields could be very beneficial for you - Computer Science, Psychology, Sociology, English, Architectures, Animation, etc.

The US offers limited numbers of Visas and you have to make yourself mighty attractive to a company, because the application process is very long and requires some expenditure by the company. At two years of experience, few company will be willing to put the effort into it (though I imagine there will be exceptions). The US game industry recently recently had a LOT of lay-offs, so you'll find yourself competing with people who have considerable more experience than you who are willing to take more junior positions just to have a job.

I can't really comment on UK. :)

Look into working holiday visa's. They let you work in a country for up to a year. Australia has agreements with all 3 countries, but the American one looks like its a bit harder. It might be easier to get a full working vista, if you already have a job. But because of the global financial crisis some countries are now refusing to issue work visas; my friend's been working in Ireland for over a year in the same job, and they couldn't get their work visa extended.

Anyway, linkies:

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/australians-overseas/ Good overview of working visas.

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/ Loads of useful information about different destinations. Also has visa info.


Both sites are government run so the information should be good.

Thanks for this info. This working holiday option was something I didn't consider. So it's another avenue to be looked into.

Thanks!

Quote: Original post by MrMark
Look into working holiday visa's. They let you work in a country for up to a year. Australia has agreements with all 3 countries, but the American one looks like its a bit harder. It might be easier to get a full working vista, if you already have a job. But because of the global financial crisis some countries are now refusing to issue work visas; my friend's been working in Ireland for over a year in the same job, and they couldn't get their work visa extended.

Anyway, linkies:

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/australians-overseas/ Good overview of working visas.

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/ Loads of useful information about different destinations. Also has visa info.


Both sites are government run so the information should be good.

Don't try to work in another country on a holiday visa. Governments tend to frown on such things, and remember that these days when a foreign government is frowning at you, it often includes a slight smile while they snap on the glove and ask you to bend over when you're being escorted out of the country.

The visa discussed in Mr Marks post is a combination holiday/Working visa. It allows you to holiday, work and/or study for a period of 12 months. So what was being suggested was not a standard holidaying visa.

From asking a customs official from last years holiday to the USA, they give you 3 months to legally stay in the country for the purpose of holiday before they chase you up. And you CANNOT get a job if you've come into the country with that intent to visit/holiday.

This is the reason I've asked for advice and musings. Because I intend to try and secure a job and sponsor before travelling aboard. :)

Quote: Original post by Talroth
Don't try to work in another country on a holiday visa. Governments tend to frown on such things, and remember that these days when a foreign government is frowning at you, it often includes a slight smile while they snap on the glove and ask you to bend over when you're being escorted out of the country.

as a last resort (Ild say try elsewhere first esp a non english speaking country), you could always work in nz, the culture is prolly more different than u think

A/ pay is less, though things cost a bit less (esp cars, nz prolly the cheapest country in the world for a car)
B/ beer is cheaper
C/ ppl are worse looking than oz (on average) prolly about the same us/cananda, though better than the uk. though no where as good as north or central europe
D/ stay away from wellington, the weather is shit