pretty interesting talk going on in this thread! being an IT professional for the last 5 yrs, i must say most are going thru the same stuff we all have gone thru in the past. well, i have something to tell you.... don't panic. the best thing to do is seize the opportunity. there is no guarantee in anything in life and IT consulting/H1B is no different. once in IT, you will have to adapt to the changing times. with outsourcing and all, things are not the same anymore. you gotta understand that not all IT professionals are programmers. there are many aspects to IT and if you have a business background, can move up the ladder. there's no way to tell which consultancy is genuine and which is not. at best you can consult friends. don't go by what's posted on the internet. for H1B holding purposes, there are many IT pros who have different companies holding their H1B. try and consult them. you need to take the chance. just try to make the best deal and move on. after a couple of yrs, you will find out for yourself. more you learn, the better experience you will have. about business analyst and SAP trainings - all these trainings are worthless if you can't LIE. i did one. did it help me? NO! was i able to get a job? YES. did i get a job based on the training? YES and NO. it all comes down to how well you can present yourself. don't go for these trainings if you are from a different background. for e.g don't take an analyst training if you're a programmer 'cause you'll probably not be able to LIE in the interview. be prepared because after these "trainings" you will enter the workforce with "6 yrs of experience" and a resume to prove that. but you will get jobs if you can back that resume. it's not impossible but takes some guts. the bottom line - if you can talk really well and sell yourself... that'll seal the deal. - midwestdude