Offshore yourself: Making the move to Asia

If it’s buying power, fun, and professional advancement you seek, the best advice is probably to go east, young man or woman, go east — the Far East.

When you hear “Asia,” you likely think first of India and China, the two emerging tech powerhouses there. But there is far more to Asia than China and India. U.S.-based executives who have lived and opened offices around Asia provide a mixed picture for IT opportunities for outsourcing yourself in the rest of Asia. English-friendly countries include Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines, all of which have established tech industries. Then there’s Taiwan, a major computer manufacturing country for years. Countries where tech industries are emerging include Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia.

[ UseInfoWorld’s interactive map to learn about 12 hot cities and 6 regions you should consider for tech jobs abroad. This region’s hot countries: China and India. ]

Australia: Security, SAP, and Siebel skills lead the needs In Australia, IT jobs are in the top 10 of what the country identifies as a “skills shortage.” Top spots are those specializing in systems security (a CISSP certificate is very useful), e-commerce security, and network security, as well as SAP and Siebel deployments.

There are about a half-dozen types of work permits available if you want to move “down under.” The “skilled” visas for those coming from outside the country include the General Skilled Migration Programme, the Skilled Independent Migrant visa, and the Skilled Sponsored Migrant visa. You’ll likely want the third one, which is a permanent visa for foreigners with skills and qualifications in demand in the Australian labor market.

New Zealand: Analysts, engineers, managers, and architects are in demand New Zealand also lists IT positions in short supply, including systems analysts, computer application engineers, systems managers, project managers, and solutions architects.

Those eligible for a temporary work visa in New Zealand must have a job offer from a New Zealand employer, as well as be in good health and “of good character.” Your would-be employer must also show that no New Zealand worker is available to do the job.

The Philippines: A growing outsourcing industry brings opportunities The Philippines has a long history with the United States., including being under U.S. rule for a time and then a major ally in World War II. As a result, many people speak English, especially in business. However, ongoing political unrest and a separatist movement have recently caused the U.S. State Department to warn Americans away.

Still, it is a great market for those IT business process specialists. BPO outsourcing is about a $1 billion growth industry. The government also offers financial incentives for attracting IT talent as part of an effort to broaden beyond call centers, its traditional outsourcing industry.

A work permit is required for the Philippines; you can apply either at an overseas consulate or in the Philippines itself. A Philippines-registered company must sponsor the work authorization application. If the position is for less than six months, you will need a Special Work Permit application.

Taiwan: IT jobs hard to get despite tech manufacturing history Taiwan has a stable government and a strong, well-developed market economy. But despite its high concentration of computer and electronics manufacturing, it is not an upcoming area for IT, says Bob Kramich, executive vice president at Dextrys, an outsourcing consultancy.

If you do find a job, note that a work permit is required, even though a visa is not for U.S. citizens. The permit must be employer sponsored, and the employer must file an application with the Council of Labor Affairs. The application must be in Chinese, and it must include a recent passport photo and supporting documentation comprising the employee’s résumé, passport, employment contract, health certificate from a pre-approved hospital, proof of education, and proof of previous work experience.

Vietnam: IT is growing fast, but from a small base Vietnam is in the throes of moving from a centrally planned economy to a market-driven economy, like China. It is developing very rapidly, says Kramich.

While IT as a business segment is growing at a phenomenal 230 percent annually, it is still a relatively small market, pegged at $75 million to $100 million in annual growth. That means IT job opportunities are limited. As an example of the small scale, Kramich notes that the entire country has 60Mbps of bandwidth available. There are two notable global companies with a large presence in Vietnam: IBM and Nortel.

In Vietnam, visas and work permits are a requirement for all foreign nationals. Most business visas are issued for six months but can be renewed. Travel agents can handle visa requirements; if you are sponsored by a multinational, the company will do it for you. Typically, an appointment letter from the company that is going to employ you is also required.

Vietnam has some of the lowest wages in the region, even at multinationals. And medical support is not good, says Kramich.

Thailand: Growth in IT, but safety issues may keep foreigners away Thailand is another growing area for IT, but safety is an issue due to recent terrorist attacks related to a separatist movement. HIV and AIDS are also prevalent in the country.

If you want to work in Thailand, you need a work permit. And to get that permit, you will first need a nonimmigrant visa. To obtain that visa, you need a letter on company letterhead that states you have been offered a job, that the company wants you to have a work permit, and that the company can vouch for your character.

Malaysia: A shortage of talent keeps IT investments low Malaysia is up and coming. But there is not a critical mass of IT talent to make it a great place for IT services. Seeking to change that, the government has begun what it calls the Multimedia Super Corridor initiative to develop more IT talent. The government is also expanding its citizens’ English skills to encourage foreign investment.

A work permit is required, and the employer must show that the employee has “proprietary knowledge, specialized skills or managerial/executive-level skills that are not readily available in the destination country’s domestic labor market.”