My I-140 is approved, can I change jobs from engineering to finance?

[saintforlife]

I am from India and My I-140 was approved in January this year (EB2). My priority date is 9/12/2012. I am thinking of changing my role at my current company from Engineering (for which the I-140 was approved) to Finance.

 

Just wondering, what will be the implications of going into a Corporate Finance role on my PERM application. What, if any, of the PERM steps have to be redone? Will I lose my priority date? What would be the best way to go about this career change with a PERM application in process?

 

Also note that my H1-B visa is expiring on Sep-30-2013 and my company is currently in the process of extending my H1B visa (for my original role as engineer). Will changing roles affect my H1B extension in any way? Should I wait till the extension is complete before pursuing the new role?

[JoeF]

Do you have a degree in finance?

If the job description changes that much, the whole process would have to start from scratch.

[saintforlife]

I don't have a degree in Finance. I have a Master's degree from the US in Engineering. But I have been doing some Finance related work in my current role as an engineer and I realized that I really love that field. I even took and completed an online MOOC class on ********* in Finance to get some formal training and class further reinforced my interest in the field. I now want to pursue a career in finance for the next phase of my career growth and my current manager is open to me pursuing a finance role in the same company. If I have to start my PERM process from scratch, can I at least keep my priority date?

[t75]

You think a MOOC is a proper qualification for a finance job. Are you serious?

 

The employer would have to look for a person for this position. There would be dozens if not hundreds of more qualified applicants. If you want to work in this role, get the proper degree.

[ateetshah]

You think a MOOC is a proper qualification for a finance job. Are you serious?

The employer would have to look for a person for this position. There would be dozens if not hundreds of more qualified applicants. If you want to work in this role, get the proper degree.

With all due respect t75 I work in hardcore Finance and I personally have hired people from Astrophysics to Civil Engineering to Political Science majors.

I think you're jumping the gun assuming it incorrectly without taking due consideration for OP's qualification and role.

Plus for what we do, jobs are scarce even with financial industry meltdown. So millions of job seekers comment is a hogwash considering there is not enough skilled labor available in many markets. That is a reality and H1 system wouldn't work if that is/was not the case.

[ateetshah]

I don't have a degree in Finance. I have a Master's degree from the US in Engineering. But I have been doing some Finance related work in my current role as an engineer and I realized that I really love that field. I even took and completed an online MOOC class on ********* in Finance to get some formal training and class further reinforced my interest in the field. I now want to pursue a career in finance for the next phase of my career growth and my current manager is open to me pursuing a finance role in the same company. If I have to start my PERM process from scratch, can I at least keep my priority date?

There is nothing wrong in what you are trying to pursue. In terms of immigration, please ask qualified immigration attorney.

Another way of doing it is if your employer is willing to offer GC role back in future. Atleast on paper this is a requirement. Also look at 50% or more change in responsibilities usually triggers a new PERM.

[saintforlife]

You think a MOOC is a proper qualification for a finance job. Are you serious?

 

The employer would have to look for a person for this position. There would be dozens if not hundreds of more qualified applicants. If you want to work in this role, get the proper degree.

I have a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from a US university. I know there are tons of people who probably have a Bachelor's degree in Finance who will be more qualified 'on paper' for the finance analyst type of job that I am looking to do the next couple of years. But I already have done finance related work in my current role and I happen to be good at it. I have 7 years of work experience and understand my industry quite well. Corporate Finance is something I get intuitively. The MOOC just reinforced it. That combined with my math, statistics and advanced excel background makes me quite suitable for the job actually. I even spoke to a couple of people in our corporate finance group, including a controller, and they think that I could transition to the job very quickly if I got in. They like the fact that I have the technical skills to go with the finance knowledge. It it the general accounting and GAAP skills that I will have to pick up on the job. Even my current manager attested to my skill and encouraged me to pursue the field that interests me the most. But he doesn't understand the ins and outs of the legal immigration process.

 

The whole H1B, PERM process is so convoluted it is not even funny. I mean if it takes me 10 years to get my Green Card, you can't possibly expect me to do the same kind of role that my original labor was filed for. There might be people who are willing to do that, but I want to pursue the career opportunities that provide me the most job satisfaction and room for professional growth.

 

In any case, I plan to apply to a part-time MBA program this Fall and will be concentrating on Finance during the MBA. But the program is 3 years long and I really don't want to wait till I complete the degree to start working in Finance. I thought that if I switched into a Finance type of role in my current company while working on the MBA, I will be able to apply the skills I learn in school on the job and that eventually it will position me well for an even better job after I graduate.

 

 

With all due respect t75 I work in hardcore Finance and I personally have hired people from Astrophysics to Civil Engineering to Political Science majors.

I think you're jumping the gun assuming it incorrectly without taking due consideration for OP's qualification and role.

Plus for what we do, jobs are scarce even with financial industry meltdown. So millions of job seekers comment is a hogwash considering there is not enough skilled labor available in many markets. That is a reality and H1 system wouldn't work if that is/was not the case.

 

Thank you. That is what my research has shown. People from all kinds of background get into Finance, not just folks with an undergrad degree in a finance related field. My ultimate goal is to get into a boutique IB firm working in a M&A, private equity or valuation kind of role.