Re: (GRE Success! ) Apply- A Query

Dear Anahita,

The US is still the foremost in terms of higher education for many, if not
most fields. I believe Petroleum Engineering is still an active and narrow
field of specialization. I am not sure what the situation will be in 20
years, but it will probably be in high demand. I am not really certain how
it compares to chemical engineering (I am a mechanical engineer), but being
broader, chemical engineering might give you opportunities to change your
mind or specializations later.

Citizenship is a lengthier process in either country. I assume you are
first interested in gaining permanent residency. In the US, this process
has remained stagnant for a while. You get a student visa, called the F1,
followed by a work visa tied to an employer called the H1-B and then the
employer typically sponsors your "green card" or permanent residency status
application. Depending on your nation of origin (you can look for the USCIS
visa bulletin online), it may take anywhere from six months to five years
(typically only for people of Indian and Chinese origin). This also changes
based on the category with which you apply for the permanent residency -
there is a specialized category called EB-1 under which you may achieve
residency in six months or so. This is however a process held to very high
standards.

The US immigration process is very flawed, and quite fickle, to the point
that one bourgeois employee can determine your fate in interesting ways.
Yet it works, in it's own way. As US competitiveness erodes, they may make
changes to try and retain talent, but so far, it appears that the
politicians have not woken up to this.

Canada has a point-based immigration system, whose details I am a bit vague
on. You get points for higher degrees, higher degrees from Canada, patents,
etc., and based on the current demand for a specific cohort of graduates in
a certain field, your immigration to Canada will vary in terms of time. I
am also given to understand that you do not necessarily have to have a job
before you apply. Please peruse official Canadian documents, and try to
identify people who have immigrated to Canada and try to understand the
system. Always be aware of rumors and misinformation when it comes to
immigration. Please also note policies and laws are in constant flux, and I
have gotten into the habit of advising students to do three things:

1. Get some job experience before graduate school, save money diligently
and do some soul searching.
2. Look for opportunities closer to home, if you come from a rapidly
growing country like India or China.
3. Cast a wider net when you are looking for schools, but be aware of
pitfalls, such as the attacks on students in Australia and UK.

Hope this helps a bit.

Good Luck,

Srihari

On Mon, Jan 2, 2012 at 10:06 AM, Anahita Sadeghian <ana_sad2001-/[email protected]>wrote:

> **
>
>
> Dear Srihari,
> Thanks for your fast reply. Actually my degree is from Tehran University,
> Iran.
> Do you see the future brighter for Canada?
> What do you think of changing my major to Petroleum Engineering, regarding
> the job markets, if you know...
> And are majors affecting the citizenship procedures??
> Thanks in advance for your help.
> Regards,
> Anahita
>
> --- On *Mon, 1/2/12, Srihari Yamanoor <[email protected]>* wrote:
>
>
> From: Srihari Yamanoor <[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: (GRE Success! ) Apply- A Query
> To: [email protected]
> Date: Monday, January 2, 2012, 9:59 AM
>
>
>
> Hello Anahita,
>
> Where is your Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from? In general,
> admissions to Canada are easier, and so are their immigration policies. The
> ease of immigration varies with the economy, so it is temporarily harder in
> Canada, but that should change once the economy improves.
>
> Good Luck,
>
> Srihari
>
> On Mon, Jan 2, 2012 at 1:03 AM, Anahita Sadeghian <ana_sad2001-/[email protected]<http://mc/compose?to=ana_sad2001-/[email protected]>
> > wrote:
>
> **
>
> Dear friends,
> It is long time that a question bothers me, I donno if I am taking it too
> serious or not, but I really need your kind advices.
> I have a Master's in Chemical Engineering and am applying. Now I see two
> ways in front of me:
> 1- Applying for a Master's in Petroleum Engineering
> 2- Applying for a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering
>
> For each of the alternatives, I think of US and Canada.
> I would be grateful if anyone can possibly share his or her valuable
> knowledge with me. Has anyone experienced a similar query?
> Any advise about choosing between US or Canada would be of great help.
> (Regarding the job market and citizenship procedure and duration)
>
> Sincerely,
> Anahita
>
>
>
>
> --
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>
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>
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>
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>  
>



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