Can a Filipino be a model in Bollywood?

How's my chance of being petitioned by a US school? Filipino CPA and soon-to-be licensed Professional Teacher?

• I am a Filipino CPA currently working as a state auditor. I subbed in high school math classes for 3 months in a Philippine Catholic school while waiting to be hired by the government sector. Now that I am employed in an office, I still have that great desire in my heart to be a teacher; I love dealing with students more than journals and receipts. I've heard that math teachers are in demand in the US and that's why I enrolled in 24 core education units to first earn a Philippine license for professional teachers. I was told that since my bachelor's degree was in accounting, my content area for the board exam next year will be Mathematics. I graduated as high school valedictorian, marched magna *** laude in my bachelor's degree (4-year government scholarship), served as an editor-in-chief of our college publication, became best debater, and qualified as one of the 20 finalists in the national search for outstanding model students. If you're the US school employer, (public or private US school) how do you assess my chances of being petitioned for an H1-B visa (once I earn my professional teacher license, notwithstanding my 3-month teaching experience since teaching locally will conflict my 8-hour work)? Right now, I am saving up for visa application and state test fees. Instead of spending for a masters in education here in our place, I'd rather take the sum from my future teacher salary. I understand I will apply through the state department of education and not in any recruitment agency. How much do you think will be a good estimate in funds to finally pursue the dream in my heart? Thank you. :-)

• Answer:

  Your chances are zero. The Philippines is not on the preferred immigration list for the US. Consequently there are only two ways you can come to the US. You can come on a fiance visa or you can have a skill that is in demand that no American can fill. Currently there is really only one job that qualifies and that is nursing. Unless you have an American fiance or a nursing degree your education is actually a deterrent to coming to the US and not an asset. I spoke to a top official in the US immigration service and asked him why Filipino's cannot immigrate and are not on the preferred list and he said that the reason is that Filipino's speak English and typically have high education levels and that neither of these assets are desired as it does not contribute to the diversity of the population. I know it sounds ignorant but that is the way it is. Get a nursing degree and your chances are good otherwise your dream is unlikely to become a reality. God bless! In Christ Fr. Joseph