Hi, the residency permit that you might have heard about with `sufficient funds`is about $10,000 in the bank PER month. So if you want to stay for a year, you would need about $120,000 in the bank now to prove it. I would say try to find a job anyway and give it a try! I think that your best bet is with a large firm who can prove that they need you over someone else due to your English skills. It just might work. But prepare yourself - it might not go as fast as you want --- I have been here for 2+ years and got denied for a permit everytime I applied. Ended up that my Swiss boyfriend proposed and now we are married. Good luck to you!!!!