Q:  I am planning to pursue a course in Library Science / MS in Information Science in US. I am an Indian and I have an MBA from India. What are my chances to get employment as a Librarian or work related to Information Science in the US? I have heard of the H1b visa and employers sponsor the applicant’s visa. My husband is on this visa in US. Could you please advise if doing a MSIS course from US will help me get a job as a Librarian or job in Information Science?
 

TA:  This question is a little out of our realm of expertise, and I would definitely recommend that you consult with a professional who is better informed about international employment and work visas.

Each April, 65,000 H-1B visas are made available USCIS, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 20,000 of which are made available for workers with advanced degrees (a master’s degree or above).  Here’s a little more about the H-IB visa:

“An H-1B visa is the most common way for employers to sponsor professional workers in the U.S. In order to qualify for this sponsorship, the employee must hold a position that requires at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in that field. Once obtained, an H-1B visa allows its bearer to stay and work in the U.S. legally for up to three years. After those three years, the visa can be renewed for up to six total years.” (http://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2014/04/07/how-does-a-company-sponsor-h1b-visas/)

If you would like to learn more the H-1B visa, you can also take a look at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services website: http://www.uscis.gov/eir/visa-guide/h-1b-specialty-occupation/h-1b-visa

If you are able to pursue the MLS in the US, it might be a nice supplement to your MBA.  Some job qualifications state a requirement of an ALA-accredited master’s degree in library or information science, so you definitely want to take that into consideration when looking at degree programs in the US.  You can find a searchable database (http://www.ala.org/accreditedprograms/directory/search) of ALA-accredited programs, as well as “Guidelines for Choosing a Master’s Program in Library and Information Studies” (http://www.ala.org/accreditedprograms/guidelines-choosing-masters-program-library-and-information-studies) on the ALA website, www.ala.org.