av8rx,
I'm still learning a lot about the whole process over there, but from what I can gather they don't seem to want foreigners taking their jobs, which is fair enough I guess. I'm just going through the whole visa process at the moment. The company I have a job with has to "sponser" me and put in several forms. They all get looked at, then apparently the job has to be advertised for ten days. For any applicants that are knocked back a reason has to be given. The employer also has to justify why and American can't do the job just as well as someone for another country.
Fortunately I don't have to do much from here, but from what I can gather it's pretty involved. I've heard that if you have a job to go to over there then it's a bit easier. There's also that green card lottery or whatever they call it too. I think they basically draw names out of a hat and if you're the lucky one then away you go.
As I say I'm still learning a lot at the moment myself, and some of what I've said may not be totally correct, but that's my understanding of things at the moment. I've still got a long way to go yet before I'll know whether or not to book the ticket over!!
Hope this has been of some assistance. I'll try to answer any other questions you might have.
The Bullet!!