There are several opportunities provided by the United States government for foreigners seeking to get work visas. Since the opportunities are many, you need to find the one that best suits your situation and making this choice most times can be very challenging for foreign nationals. In this article, we will be discussing how to get jobs in the USA for foreign nationals. How To Get Jobs In The USA For Foreign Nationals
We will also discuss how to get social security numbers and other useful tips to find jobs in the US. If you are a foreign national who seeks to live and work in the USA, all you need to do is understand the process of acquiring the right documents that will allow you to legally work and live in the United States of America.
How To Get Jobs In The USA
Are you among those planning to relocate to the United States of America in search of a job? This section of this article will help you because we will be showing you how to get jobs in the USA as a foreign national. There are three major ways how to get jobs in the USA and a visa too. The following are how to get jobs in the USA for foreign nationals:
Sponsorship
One of the ways how to get jobs in the USA is through visa sponsorship. Visa sponsorship is a system where an employer guarantees the status of an employee as a legal working resident. Once you get sponsorship, your employer will verify your job title and take responsibility for both you and your actions throughout your stay in the country. The following are the processes you can use to obtain sponsorship:
Prepare Your Documents For The Application Process
If you are planning to get sponsorship, one of the first steps you must take is to apply for a job in your home country. But before you do that, you must prepare your resume and cover letter in an American style which will demonstrate to prospective US employers that you understand American Norms and that you can adapt to a new environment.
While preparing your resume and cover letter, ensure you include only the relevant experiences in both documents. For instance, if you are looking for employment as an accountant, you can list the accounting jobs you have done in the work history section of your resume. You can also add details of your professional achievement and specify your English language proficiency.
Search For Jobs Online
Searching for jobs online is another way to get jobs in the USA for foreign nationals. Look for positions that relate to your qualifications by searching for job sites like Indeed. Indeed also allows you to create a profile on their platform so that other employers can find you. While searching for jobs, verify if the employers you find will accept sponsorship.
This will help you to avoid confusion and employers rejecting your applications. In case you cannot filter your search results by sponsorship opportunities, you can type sponsorship on the search field within the quotation marks. By doing this, you will only receive results containing the terms you are searching for.
In your search, if you notice a company does not explicitly state that they provide sponsorship, contact them directly to find out if they do. Even if the company do not usually grant sponsorship to their employer, they may make an exception if they see that you will add value to their organization if you are employed.
Attend Online Interview
Most of the candidates seeking how to get jobs in the USA live outside the United States. Because of this, employers usually schedule online interviews through teleconference software. So if you are setting up or scheduling an interview, be conscious of the time difference.
The United States has four time zones, so you need to find out the location of the employer so that you will be able to determine the time zone that will be suitable for both parties. Be prepared to accept to be interviewed late at night to accommodate the employer.
When it is time for your interview, ensure you equip yourself with a reliable internet connection to avoid disruptions during the interview. Also, make sure you dress professionally as one attending an in-person meeting so that you will be able to make a good first impression.
Temporary Visa
Getting a temporary visa is another way how to get jobs in the USA for foreign nationals. When you get a temporary visa, it means you will be renewing it regularly. Most work visas are employer-driven. This means that it is your employer that will apply to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services(USCIS) lottery on your behalf, especially for an H1B visa.
The USCIS uses their discretion to limit the number of applications it selects and you won’t be able to file a petition except if yours is among them. The US lottery is usually opened in March each year for approximately two weeks. During these two weeks, your employer is to submit details such as your name, date of birth and passport number.
Steps To Get A Temporary Visa
Knowing this situation that exists, you can follow the steps below to obtain a temporary visa once you have accepted a job offer.
File A Petition If It Is Necessary
If you know you are not eligible to file a petition, ask your employer to file a petition for you with USCIS. It is not always necessary to file a petition. For example, if you work in an investment or international trade sector, you will not require an employer petition to be eligible. You can check the USCIS website here for more information.
Wait For Your Employer’s Petition Approval
When you apply, you need to wait for the USCIS to approve your employer’s petition, once it is approved, you can apply for a visa. If you fail to wait for approval results it will lead to denial of your application. The waiting period depends on the category or the level you occupy in the workplace. Some categories have a limited number of visas issued per year.
Apply For A Temporary Visa
Applying for a temporary visa is one of the ways how to get jobs in the USA for foreign nationals If your petition has been approved, the next step is to complete an online application for your temporary visa. Ensure you write down your application I.D. number somewhere because you will use it to access it later. The application is usually in English and requires you to provide information about your work history, education, and criminal background.
Make sure you follow the application prompts and respond to each question completely and accurately. When you have finished filling out the application form, the application will pop up the submit an application fee and schedule a visa appointment with the nearest US embassy/consulate.
Interview With The US Embassy Or Consulate
One of the main reasons for conducting the visa interview is to verify that you are qualified for the visa which you applied for. The Consulate or embassy will collect your visa application fee, review your original documents, take your fingerprints and confirm or deny your application at the end of the process.
Get Your Visa
Once your application is approved, you can go back a few weeks later to pick up your passport with a visa stamp. Ensure you ask about additional fees in case there are any. Once you have gotten your visa, collaborate with your employer to make hotel and travel arrangements if you don’t have where to live. Some employers provide accommodation for their employees when they arrive in the country.
Green Card
Having a green card is one of the ways how to get jobs in the USA for foreign nationals. This a document that authorises a foreign national to live and work in the USA permanently. You can get a permanent residency through an annual green card lottery called the Diversity Immigration Visa Program, which can be applied online. Through this program, applicants are randomly selected and approximately 50,000 green cards are distributed yearly. The following are what to do to apply for and get a green card.
Ask Your Employer To Complete An 1-140 Form For You
This is an immigration petition form which an employer completes for the employee and submits. The petition may require the US Department of Labour Certification. Your employer may seek legal advice from a known Immigration Attorney to process it.
Ask About Your Priority Date
Once your employer has filed an immigration petition, they receive a notice from USCIS with your priority date which in turn determines your application date. Ensure you remember the date because premature application results in rejection of the application. Find the government website for a filing chart to see when you can submit your application according to your priority date.
Get A Medical Exam
The first thing you do here is to find an approved doctor on the USCIS website. After that, make an appointment for a medical examination. The reason for the medical examination is to verify and ensure that you meet the health-related standards required.
Fill Out And Submit Your Application
Here you need to download the form 1-485 on the USCIS website and fill it out. Ensure you give honest answers. While filling it out, you may consider seeking the advice of an immigration attorney if the need arises so that they will help you to fill out the form correctly.
Make copies of the requested official documents before you submit them and ensure you submit them according to the directions given on the USCIS website. Note that application fees apply so find out.
Interview And Biometrics
You will be required by the USCIS to provide your fingerprints, signature and photos. They may also invite you for an interview with the embassy to verify that the answers you provided on your application are correct. Once the USCIS has received your application, you will start expecting to receive a date and time for these appointments.
Receive The Decision
If your application has been approved, you can start expecting your green card by mail. But if your application is denied, you can appeal the decision. The common reasons why some applications are denied include missing documents, unclear information and submitting documents later than the deadline.
Obtain A Social Security Number
Having a social security number is one of the ways how to get jobs in the USA for foreign nationals. Once you are successful and have been issued your green card or visa, you will need to obtain a social security number to work in the USA. You can apply for both your visa and social security number with the Department of State. Alternatively, you can contact a Local Social Security Administration (SSA) office while you are lawfully present in the country. Check here for more details on social security numbers for citizens.
Read Also: Unskilled Jobs With Visa Sponsorship UK- How To Apply Now
Some Tips On How To Get Jobs In The USA For Foreign Nationals
The following are some of the tips on how to get jobs in the USA for foreign nationals. You can use these tips to maximize your chances of finding jobs in the USA as a foreign national. See the tips below:
Take your Time: Here you need to start the process of how to get jobs in the USA for foreign nationals on time. This is because it takes time to get a visa.
Verify If You Are Eligible: Look at the eligibility requirement and review it before applying for a visa to work and live in the US.
Beware of Scammers: There are scammers everywhere, so beware of them. You are not required to pay any fees to access these forms. But there are fees that you will pay to file the applications and petitions.
Ensure You Verify The Visa Process Before You Apply: Go through the Visa Bulletins to check updates on the visa process and also learn and get information about immigration laws’ evolution.