Working in America

America has always been known as the land of the free, a place where theoretically anyone from any back ground can achieve anything!  A country seemingly without personal restrictions and one that promotes liberty and freedom of speech so vociferously, America naturally draws thousands of applications for residency and working visas annually.

Those serious about working in America need to know how to go about acquiring a green card or visa that will grant them both residency and employment rights in the USA.  This is a guide to the different visa types that exist, who’s eligible to apply for one and how to go about moving to America and finding work.

Generally speaking when we think about America we think about a first world country where the standard of living is incredibly high, employment opportunities abound and where one can live a good life in a free thinking society.  Naturally enough these features of the American way of life are highly attractive to immigrants from across the world which makes the competition for the limited number of green cards or visas that America release each year incredibly intense.

There are a number of ways someone interested in working in America can align themselves in the best possible way for acceptance into the USA, and the first thing to do is understand which particular visa type to apply for.  Different visas grant the individual different residency and employment rights – please note that those interested in moving to the United States have to have a visa in place before they travel.  It is not possible to visit America on a holiday or tourist visa and then make an application for residency whilst in the country. 

Those considering working abroad for the summer or for a short period of time may be eligible to apply for either a J1 visa, or an H2A or H2B visa.  J1 visas are for students and trainees who wish to live and study in America and work temporarily.  Students who are eligible for this visa type may work for up to 4 months in America while they study at university and trainees can work for up to 18 months as part of their training. 

H2A and H2B visas are for seasonal workers.  The difference between the two types of visa is that the H2A visa is for seasonal workers in industries such tourism where they can work for up to 10 months in a year and the H2B visa is for agricultural seasonal workers.

If a skilled professional is interested in living and working in America there are three main visas that they can apply for.  The most common one is the H1 visa which is for those who have been offered a specialist job in a specific professional field of employment.  Usually those applying for this visa type have at least a university degree and/or specialist skills.  This is a visa sponsored by an employer so anyone who falls into this category has to first find a job in America and then their new employer will sponsor them for the H1 visa.

Another alternative is applying for the E class visa which is for those with at least USD 100,000 to invest in a company or business venture in America – it is the most suitable visa for those with a business to transfer to the United States for example.  And finally there is a specialist green card available to those who are transferred to America by their current employer - and that’s the L class visa.

For anyone else they can either become engaged to be married to an American citizen and then apply for a K class visa or, if they have specialist skills or talents in the arts, sporting world, science or business world there are visas known as O or P class that can be applied for.  For more information the US Citizenship and Immigration Services website details all the rules relating to living and working in the USA.

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