A lot of immigrants come to the United States to look for work. America is the land of opportunity, after all!
But just because you have a visa doesn’t automatically mean that finding a job is easy. It can feel downright impossible to find a job or get started in a career when you aren’t a citizen.
Although it can be difficult to find and keep a job, it isn’t impossible. Follow these tips and you can find a better job more quickly and easily.
Know What Kind of Visa You Have
The first thing you have to do is know what kind of visa you have. Some visas allow you to work while you’re in the United States, and some don’t.
For example, those who have a B-1 business visa or a B-2 tourist visa are not authorized to work. Things can get tricky when you dig into the details, though. For example, an athlete on a B-1 visa can actually make money during a competition, but they cannot receive compensation for anything other than the competitive event that is tied to their visa.
It’s important to know what kind of visa you have and the specific rules tied to that visa so you don’t work when you’re not supposed to. If you do, you could be deported.
Try Looking For Temporary Openings
Finding your first job as a newcomer to the United States can be extremely difficult. If you’re having trouble, try looking for temporary openings.
These types of jobs are often offered seasonally in order to keep up with demand. For example, a restaurant might hire more servers during the summer or a warehouse might hire more workers during the holiday season. Because there’s an urgent need to fill openings, you have a greater chance of getting hired.
Focus on legitimate roles within established businesses, as worker exploitation is more common for temporary roles. You should also be aware that temporary roles rarely come with benefits, like medical insurance.
Just a few temporary jobs to look for include:
- Warehouse associate
- Server
- File clerk
- Sales associate
- Receptionist
- Administrative assistant
- Customer service representative
Work With an Employer That Has Worked With Visa Holders in the Past
Finding a job as a visa holder can be difficult, but hiring a visa holder can be even more difficult. Many places avoid hiring people with visas because there are a lot of hoops to jump through.
Try narrowing down your job search and focus on applying for jobs with employers who have worked with visa holders in the past. If they have hired at least one employee with a visa before, they have already gone through the process and figured out how to fill out all the paperwork. Once they know how to hire a visa holder, they are likely to hire others with visas as well.
Consider Getting a Certification or Degree
The United States is always looking for educated immigrants. Not only is becoming a citizen easier if you have a degree, but it also makes finding a job a lot easier.
If you don’t already have a degree, look into getting one. If you don’t have the time or money to obtain a degree, consider receiving a certificate instead. Certifications cost less money and take less time to obtain, but they demonstrate your skillset and dedication to a certain type of work.
Understand Taxes
It’s extremely important to understand how taxes work in the United States. That’s especially true for people who hold visas, as the paperwork and process of paying taxes are a little bit different.
Although it can be tempting to find ways around paying your taxes, especially when you aren’t a citizen, it’s better to pay them anyway. It makes becoming a citizen easier, should that be something you’re interested in. It can also keep you from being deported, as evading taxes is grounds for officials to remove you from the country.
Know what paperwork you have to fill out, how you will be paying your taxes, and how much you can expect to pay. That way it doesn’t take you by surprise when it comes out of your paycheck or your bill comes due.
Always Be Open and Honest
Getting a job when you have a visa can be a huge pain. It can be tempting to downplay your status or outright lie about your status.
It’s important to be open and honest, no matter what kind of job you get. It’s the best way to ensure that you aren’t illegally employed, which can cause huge problems for both you and your employer down the road.
That means being open and honest when you are hired, but it also means being open and honest about the future. Don’t mislead a company into thinking you’re getting your citizenship if you aren’t, or if there are conditions on your visa that may require you to take time off. Be upfront about your situation and life will be easier for both you and your employer.
Know if Quitting is an Option in the Future
If you obtained a work visa that is conditional upon your position, you’ll want to figure out what it would take to quit.
You can’t just quit your job if you don’t like it when you have a work visa. You have a limited number of days to find a new job before you will be required to leave the country, so it’s important to choose a job that’s most likely to be a good fit.
Knowing you have a time limit can encourage you to start looking for other positions before you quit, too. That way you aren’t in danger of being deported just because the job wasn’t right for you.
Finding and keeping work in the U.S. can be tricky when you have a visa, but it isn’t impossible. With the right focus, dedication, and tips on this list, you can find a job stateside, even if you aren’t a citizen.
