Dear advisers,  

This is another DV immigrant in line coming to the US. I am BE Civil Engineering and have an european Master Degree in Water Resources Managment. Currently I am working for my own consultancy business in Nepal with scanty incomes . My position is managerial rather than technical. I am wondering about my career in the US. Many colleaguesadvise  me that I have to start from the scratch over there. They told me that my certificates and experiecne do not count to start even entry level job but "ghanta hanne jpt kam".  I am hitting 40 next year. Shall I go for another US degree? If I have to do so, which degree is most promising? Or what might be other options for me?

 bro, I am your akashbaani, abandon your DV-GC; not worth it.

It's not worth it at this point. If you came to the US as a student then worked your way up the social, cultural and corporate ladder then it maybe worth it. But coming here at 40 and hoping to start from scratch is just not worth it! I have seen quite a few people your age come with family but it is sad to see the frustration they have to face with their family. Everyone expects life to be good in the US but it's not a bunch of roses. In US you can't hang outside your street and understand everything that's going on in the world. US is big everyone is an island on their own. You will not understand the system for first couple of years. On top of that transportation is not easy for new comers even in cities like New York. Just understanding how things work can be frustrating. If you have kids they will go through very difficult time as they won't know anyone.

I came here as a student but still go through miserable times trying to aclimatize myself, it will be very difficult for you. Once you come here you will realize the rent is very high and you don't want to use the money you brought over from Nepal so everyone in your family will need to work mininum wage job to just pay your living expense.

You must already have a normal life cycle set up in Nepal. Try to enjoy it because if you come to the US it may take up another 10 years for you to reach a stage where you can begin to enjoy your life.

I think he (u r right from left) is trying to get some advice about his career.

 Bro,
          Its never too late to start. If you join school this year and then get out in 2 years, you will still have 23 years more years worth of income before you retire. I don't think you're too old. I have seen Nepalis coming in their late thirties on an F1 visa and making it in two years. If you were fifty, I would have said its a little too late, but 40 is the new 30. Goodluck to you.

H

मज्जाले आए हुन्छ अमेरिका , especially if you do not have a high paying job in UN agencies, other donors or in private bank. You already have a civil engineering degree, get a Masters in any field in civil engineering. With some decent GRE score, you will easily find an assitantship in a so-so type of school. Your wife can find a job of sales person/chashier etc. आखिर  नेपालमा  पनि  इमान्दारीपुर्बक  काम  गर्ने  सरकारी /गैर  सरकारी  कर्मचारीको  wife   ले  चुरा  पोते  पसल  चलाएको  देखेकै  हो |

So, nothing bad doing any work in US. She can even enrol into a community college to raise her skill in accounting, financing, or even nursing/physican/pharmacy assistant after she saves some money to pay for tuition, if you do not have too many kids to look after :). Kids will also love it here. Being with your family, you will love your life. If your parents are not too old and you have your siblings in Nepal who are happy to take care of your parents, then you can concentrate on your study and work. I believe, after 3/4 years your life will be far more better that what you have now. You said you have 'scanty income and work as a manager in a consultancy'.

त्यो  3/4 वर्ष  पनि  terrible अनि  acclamatize गर्न  गारो  हुन्न |, especially if you have your whole family together. Besides, you will need to be ready to take benefit from social safety program. यो  acclamatize हुने  पनि  तेस्तै  रैछ , 15/16 वर्ष  अगाडी  Tri-Chandra campus को  पर्खाल मा  Kathmandu का  केटाहरु  संग  बसेर  छिट्टै  सहरिया  जस्ता  देखिने  मित्र हरु  अहिले  'internet cafe' अनि तेस्तै तेस्तै काम गरेर बसेका छन्  , अनि  ढाकाटोपी  लगाएर  आफ्नो  काम गर्ने , पदने  अनि डेरामा जाने  मान्छे  कहाँ  पुगिसके  देखेकै  हो .

@ U r right from left ji ,
          Time ta lagcha , afu le khojeko position ma pugna lai tara pani afu le kam herna choddnu hunna Keep applying it with your own Nepal ko degree(किन लेखना पर्यो र नेपाल को भनेर ) मज्जा ले जे डिग्री छ eg  ME इन सिविल Engineering  मात्र लेखनी नि  + do some side job just to pay for bills because nepal ko paisa liyera ayera ta yeha 3,4 mahina lai pani pugdaina . Don't sell your property in nepal too .  I know one day you will be there where you wanted to be . Manche ko luck kati cha tehi matra ho sath milyo bhane   majja le Auni ni Amrica DV parepachi kina naauni ?

Big question is what do you expect from US and what are you willing to put?
If you want minimal effort, I say you should apply for a governmental agencies and not-for-profit entities in DC area; they are responsible for similar policy analysis and such. You will be fit for that. UN/WB/IMF might be another choice, but getting in them is very hard.

Being minimal effort, it is generally hard to get in them. So if you are willing to put another 2-3 years of study and 3-4 years of struggle, then go ahead with another Masters in the same degree and get some internships along the way. While you are doing this, keep applying to the entities I mentioned earlier. Since you don't have much technical experience, getting a job in pure civil engr will be hard; but with masters+internship+licensing in specialized field, you should be fine.

I think you already know that you shouldn't expect to have an easy life here; but if you work hard and make the right connections (education wise/networking wise) then you will get to reap what you sow. You should keep in mind that there still is a chance of failure; people with better educations and bigger resumes/experience are waiting jobless...so have some second option. Like Pokhrelikanchi said, don't double down by selling everything back home.

Good luck. Hope US treats you well.

Many thanks to all contributors. Indeed very useful advices for me.
@ kiddo
QUOTE: apply for a governmental agencies and not-for-profit entities in DC area; they are responsible for similar policy analysis and such
 
Would you please throw more light on it? why only in DC area?
 

 Yep the important word is You have Unrestricted  Employment option  and Engineering degree......With that you will live a good life!