Finding a job in America is a feasible challenge. But you have to balance the availability of vacancies, the places to live, the climatic conditions, the community you will live in and much more! Here is a general guide to help you understand where you want to live, how to get a job and a residence permit, and what to do to move to America.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Applying for a Job in America
Step 1. Apply for jobs available in the cities you have selected (read below to find out how to choose)
Vacancies can be found online on company websites and also on professional search pages.
- Write a resume and cover letter template; both should be customizable for specific locations.
- If you write the application by hand, fill in the entire form using capital letters and clearly. Do not use italics, as the spelling can be difficult to understand, especially if it belongs to a foreign person. Americans may have trouble reading the writing of people from other countries.
- If possible, provide references in the United States.
- Offer an interview via Skype or another online conferencing system. Many companies will have several interviews with different people.
- Send a thank you letter three or four days after the interview. In traditional businesses, a paper letter is appropriate. For high tech jobs, you can keep in touch with the company via email.
Step 2. Know that obtaining a work residence permit in the United States always takes several months at a minimum
- You can offer to do consultancy work (paid per hour) in the country where you currently live but in partnership with the company in the USA for several months, so that they can get to know you better.
- You can propose to visit the company in the USA to get to know them better before being hired.
Step 3. Try moving to America as a student to begin with
Many found success by moving to America with a residence permit for study purposes, and then sought a profession after entering a school.
- This only works if you can be admitted and pay the tuition of course.
- It is best to choose a school and / or degree that makes it easier for you to find a job. Students with a technical specialization will find it easier to get sponsored for a residence permit with an American company.
Part 2 of 4: Obtaining a Business Residence Permit (or Green Card)
Step 1. Apply for the right residence permit
A green card allows you to obtain permanent residence in America, while a residence permit is temporary. However, most people first obtain a work residence permit and then apply for a green card sometime later.
Step 2. Watch out for immigration scams
Step 3. You need to know that there are many types of residence permits for immigrant people for the purpose of working in a company
You may want to hire a lawyer to help you navigate the different documents or put your trust in your company's HR department.
- The Specialty Workers, or H1B Visa, is aimed at immigrants who wish to work in a specialized field. Ask the company you are applying to if they can sponsor you for an H1B. Many businesses will. They will have to pay around $ 25,000 for legal costs, but if your professional is wanted, it might be worth it for them. If you're not sure, you can ask if they could sponsor you after six months if things go well.
- The Temporary Skilled or Unskilled Workers, or H2B, Visa is provided to immigrants who want to fill positions that are not in the agricultural sector but which are of a temporary nature.
- Intracompany Transferees, or L1, Visa is for immigrants who will be working for a company that has operations in America. The employee must also be part of the management or guarantee a specialized skill. If you work for a large company with offices in the US, ask your US colleagues if you can go through this process.
- The Employment-based Preference Visas are aimed at immigrants who have already been hired, as this residence permit must be requested by the employer.
Step 4. Remember that there are special residence permits for people from certain countries
Those who have friendly relations with the US typically have better deals.
- The E3 Visa is intended for citizens of Australia who work in America in a specialized sector.
- Canadian and Mexican citizens can apply for a TN Visa. On the English version of wikiHow, you can find special instructions for Canadian citizens.
Step 5. However, the process is different if your purpose is to start your own business
Entrepreneurs should look into L1 and E residence permits. The E2 Visas are well known because they allow you to obtain a residence permit simply by investing money in a US company, but remember that this path does not lead you to a green card.
Part 3 of 4: Researching Cities and Jobs in America
Step 1. Search US cities
Choose several of the ones you find most appealing. You can probably find some full of job offers for your industry and in which you would also like to live.
- Look for cities with affordable housing and living costs, a large selection of jobs, a certain availability of accommodation, good health facilities, schools and places of worship that are appropriate for your needs. You should also consider if you have friends of friends or if other people from your country live in this area.
- The climate is quite varied in the United States; do a research on the averages of the seasonal temperatures and evaluate the other characteristics of the territory, to make sure you do not have problems with certain extreme natural manifestations or with risks such as earthquakes or hurricanes.
Step 2. Look for open positions for your industry in selected cities before emigrating to America
- Check the typical salaries paid to people in the same profession as you. Review Bureau of Labor statistics on salaries by country section and by job category; so you can get an idea of the amount you could negotiate in the various regions of the country. You can also look on job search websites, such as craigslist.com, linkedin.com, indeed.com, or others.
- The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides detailed information about job prospects in most of the larger fields. The information is updated annually and includes data on training or experience required for a certain type of profession, as well as forecasts and a general job description.
Step 3. Balance your job availability with the kind of lifestyle you want to have in the US
Some cities are better than others, it depends on what you do.
- The coasts, San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles are very expensive. You might find these jobs attractive if you are in a very well-paid profession, for example you are an engineer, programmer, mathematician, and so on.
- If you have a profession that can be done anywhere, for example you are a nurse, school teacher or doctor, you may want to opt for the smaller towns, which have a lower cost of living and may not have enough professionals.
- If you are an entrepreneur, you may find smaller towns cheaper, even if they are less open to foreigners.
Part 4 of 4: Moving to America
Step 1. Find a place to live
Rent an apartment or house near your new workplace when you move to America. However, you should be aware that many homeowners consider foreign renters to be risky, and you should pay a higher deposit or provide more references.
- If you sign a long-term apartment rental contract, you will need to pay a deposit for the house you would like to live in, usually corresponding to at least one month's rent plus a deposit for any damage.
- You may need to provide references and information regarding your creditworthiness to prospective homeowners.
- Most of the companies offering the services will also require deposits before you can use them.
Step 2. Consider a short-term rental of an apartment or house
- A good solution is to rent an apartment for just a month before figuring out where you want to live. AirBnB is a useful website for doing this. Pure Craigslist has proposals to keep in mind, but it's a little more risky.
- If you know people in the city you are moving to, you can directly ask to stay in their home for a short period of time.
Step 3. Health insurance can be a challenge in America
Not everyone has it.
Consult your employer about the company's health insurance policies. If it is not provided, you may want to find one on the open market
Step 4. Look for schools if you have children or if you plan to have them
Public schools in America are free until Grade 12, but they have a very varied quality. Some can even be dangerous.
Step 5. Apply for a green card
After working for some time, you can find out how to apply for a green card.
