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The answer to this question is not obvious. On the one hand, a huge country with a developed economy constantly needs workers. Moreover, both qualified specialists (doctors, engineers, scientists, teachers) and those who will be engaged in simple physical labor are required: drivers, salesmen and production workers.
However, President Trump has consistently advocated restricting migration, even to the detriment of the country. In 2020, the situation was also affected by the pandemic. The United States suffered the worst blow of the epidemic, which led to mass unemployment and loss of income for the population. The government even had to resort to direct distribution of money. However, in April 2020, due to rising unemployment, about a third of tenants in the country could not pay rent. In February 2020, there were only 3.5% of the country's unemployed, but by April the rate had risen to 14.7%, which was the worst result since the Great Depression. Over the summer, the number of unemployed gradually declined, but remained at an alarmingly high level.
In these circumstances, the President resorted to prohibitive measures and signed the Executive Order suspending the issuance of a number of work visas until the end of 2020. The main types of visas have fallen within the scope: H1B - for highly qualified specialists, H-2B - for seasonal workers, and others. However, other types of visas are still issued, and each case is considered separately.
Before the crisis, American job sites were filled with vacancies in the service and physical labor sectors. In construction professions alone, 40,000-60,000 vacancies appeared per day. Another issue is the salary, which is quite low for such workers. Therefore, local people do not particularly seek such positions.
The American labor market is one of the most competitive in the world. The unemployment rate is usually around 4-4,5%. The most reliable way to find a job in the country is through acquaintances, friends and relatives who already live in the States. They are aware of the specifics of the move and the market situation in a particular state. But if there are none, use the following methods:
The main resources you should pay attention to are the US Department of Labor and the US government portal. You can use them to view not only suitable vacancies, but also retraining courses.
Other popular resources for finding a job in the United States:
Also check our article about the best services with international job offers
A good way to find a job in the United States is to send your CV in English to one of the major local corporations. For example, Ford Motor, Hewlett-Packard, Chevron, Procter & Gamble, J P Morgan Chase & Co.
You should pay attention to large companies because they constantly need specialists, and they already have foreign employees in their staff. Therefore, they have knowledge and experience in the field of hiring foreigners.
Don't neglect periodicals to find a job. Also, pay attention to those published by local communities. Good options for Internet search:
There are hundreds of recruitment companies in the US. For a certain fee they will help you quickly find a suitable job. When choosing one of them, be sure to check whether you have a license to carry out such activities and do not forget to read the contract that is offered to you.
Choose a company that takes payment for services rendered on the fact. If the recruitment agency turns out to be a fraud, you can file a complaint with the State Consumer Protection Office.
It is a time-consuming, yet effective method. Monitoring ads in shopping centers, catering establishments, salons, and hotels have benefits. If the company does not have a corresponding board, you can contact the administrator or manager. If you are interested, you will be given the manager's phone number and an interview date.
Don't forget about the local communities that exist in every state. Their job is to help a compatriot adapt to life in America. Here you can find out about vacancies and get all the information about the subtleties of employment.
It takes place only in organizations officially registered in the country. Two categories of people can participate in these programs:
The main advantages of such work are experience and professional skills, improving the English language, and understanding the country's culture. A reasonable option for those who plan to move to America in the future or just want to diversify their life. At the end of the internship, the employer can give you a letter of recommendation.
You can search for a suitable company or program yourself, or choose a sponsor organization on the State Department's website that will help you find a good offer for a fee. Next, you fill out a questionnaire that is considered for a month, you select a suitable program, send an invitation, which you sign. After filling out a number of forms, a contract is signed with you. And then you can go to the American Consulate with these documents.
The most popular programs:
The internship lasts from 3 months to 1,5 years and is available only once in a lifetime. A work visa is issued for the duration of your stay for a period of 3 months to a year. The cost of the program is $2,000-4,000.
During the internship, you receive a salary of $1,000-1,500 per month. In most cases, the employer provides the student with housing, but sometimes you will have to take care of the rent yourself. Therefore, it is better to find out all the nuances in advance and calculate how much money you will need in addition.
For highly qualified professions – this is a mandatory requirement, since documents are accepted and interviews are conducted exclusively in English. Without knowledge of the language, you can only count on a low-paying job. But with the obligation to learn English as soon as possible.
Not all employers recognize diplomas issued outside the United States. Therefore, first check the requirements to this document.
Nostrification is a confirmation of the authenticity of the diploma, which is carried out by special agencies for a fee. To review your application, you will need to collect all the documents related to your education and wait about a month. As a result, you will receive a special certificate with a unique number. The Commission is responsible for reviewing your case and carefully examines all the details: the list of disciplines and the number of hours spent on their study, grades, scientific publications, thesis, additional education. Keep in mind that in the issued American equivalent, the academic degree may be lower.
The requirements also vary depending on the position you want to apply for. Let's look at the most popular options:
It is pointless to apply for this position without relevant work experience and knowledge of the language. If you have both, feel free to leave a detailed CV on the above sites, be sure to specify the languages and systems that you know. If you pass the interview successfully, you are checked for professional aptitude during the test period.
It is a very popular profession in the US, but to apply for a medical position, you need to have a corresponding diploma that is valid in a certain state. Confirmation certificates are issued by a special Commission (for more information, please visit the ECFMG website). To get confirmation, you will have to pass theoretical and practical tests. After that, you will need to complete a residencyship (several years of medical practice under the supervision of experienced doctors and for a small salary) by the standards of this profession.
Only after all these procedures can you start looking for a job. However, a doctor with proven qualifications and experience in America will already be welcomed in many medical institutions. And immigrant doctors are in demand in the United States. According to data for the last year, 25% of medical workers in the country are foreigners.
Only Green Card holders can legally work on farms. But you need to look for such vacancies on the spot, visiting local farms. If you see the Help Wanted sign, feel free to find out more. You can always find such a job, they pay you in cash, and they often provide you with housing and food.
The US is constantly experiencing a shortage of experienced truckers. It is relatively easy to find and get such a job, the company often pays for the training itself. You have to go through additional training at the school of truckers, which lasts 2 days and costs about $1,000 and pass the test. The main advantage is the fact that you don't need to learn the structure of the car. This is the duty of a mechanic.
To work legally in the United States, you can be:
The us Consulate issues many different visas depending on the category of migrant and the goals pursued. The main requirements are compliance with the “Immigration and Nationality Act” and certification. The Ministry of Labor must be sure that you are needed for the country and will not deprive a local citizen of work by your arrival.
The most popular type of work visa. Issued to experienced and highly qualified specialists. To obtain a higher education diploma, recognized in America, or at least 12 years of experience in the specialty. You also need a specific offer from the employer with a salary level that is not lower than the average for the selected position.
Sometimes specific types of activity require a license issued for 3 years with the possibility to extend up to 6 years. During this time, you can start applying for a Green Card or even getting one. If you are not given a Green Card during this time, then when the visa expires, you will have to stay outside the United States for at least a year to apply for the next one.
Temporary visa for seasonal workers (hotels, ski resorts, construction, summer camps, sports, coaching, art and show business, etc.). The field of agriculture is not included here, there is a separate H-2A visa for it.
Issued for a year, but can be extended up to 3 years. The country has an annual quota of 66,000 for this type of visa. Getting a Green Card is not provided.
A visa intended for specialists who improve their skills, participate in educational programs or take courses that have no analogues in their home country.
It is issued to managers and especially valuable specialists of a specific company registered in the United States. Depending on the position, it is issued for 3-7 years. The main requirement is official work in the organization for at least 12 months in the past three years.
And this is not all categories of work visas. There are also specialized: H-1C (for nurses), O-1 (for talented foreigners), Q-1 (cultural exchange), etc.
It is ideal to enter the country with a Green Card, but not everyone can do it.
Before submitting documents, you must find an employer and prepare a package of documents for the American Consulate:
The application must be submitted 3 months before the scheduled date of employment, and you must enter no later than 10 days before the start of the contract. Prepare your documents carefully and do not try to falsify them: if the truth is revealed, you may be banned from entering the country. If application is successful, your family members can also come and live in the United States, but without the right to work (H4 visa).
If you immigrate to the United States, this does not mean that you automatically have the right to work. The permit allows you to work in the country and gives the employer the right not to coordinate your admission to their company with the authorities. The following types of temporary residents in America are required to obtain a work permit:
Refugees do not need a work permit – when they enter the United States, they receive an I-94 form, which they then show to their employer.
To get a work permit, in addition to a special application, you must submit a list of documents to the Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), the specific list of which is determined by the category of immigrants. All papers must be in English, and a translator's certificate must be attached. After that, the service sends an email with the date when you must report to the local office to collect biometric data.
Getting a work visa is not an easy process, but illegal activities in America are much more problematic. Recently, measures have been tightened due to the influx of illegal migrants, the financial crisis and in order to improve security.
Periodically, the authorities conduct amnesties, after which illegal immigrants can get temporary registered status for 6 years with a fine of $500. But hoping for such indulgences is not worth it.
Keep in mind that even if your visa is expired by a day, you will be deported. If you have been living in the country illegally for 6 months, you are not allowed to enter America for the next 3 years, if a year or more - for 10 years. Moreover, the penalty is imposed on both sides: the employer not only pays the fine, but also is subject to criminal liability in particularly difficult cases.
Professionals that always have a place in America are doctors, programmers, engineers, construction workers, service and agricultural workers, handymen. Employees without diplomas are in demand. If you study the sites of work, you will notice a lot of ads that also require:
However, the United States is particularly in need of highly qualified specialists. And in return for the time spent (diploma confirmation, document collection, license, exams, etc.), you will receive a decent salary.
The average salary in America varies greatly from a state to a state. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national total is $865 a week, $3,800 a month, and $45,600 a year. But in Mississippi this figure reaches $68,000, in Wyoming - $61,000, in New York - $60,000. The lowest annual income is in Hawaii ($40,000), Alaska ($42,000) and Wisconsin ($44,000). Moreover, women receive 19,5% less than men.
The minimum hourly wage is set at the Federal level and for 2020 it is $7.25. But again: each state has its own bid. For example, in Wyoming and Georgia it is $5.15, in Columbia - $14.0 (the highest level in the US), in Washington – $13.5%, in Massachusetts – $12.75, in California – $13. Five States do not have such a concept at all, and another 12 adjust the amount each year depending on the consumer price index.
There are also categories of citizens who are not guaranteed this minimum. For example, students who work part-time during their studies, employees with physical and mental disabilities, nurses, fishermen, Federal investigators, couriers, sailors, telephone operators, farm employees.
Income tax varies between 10-35% and depends on a person's ability to pay and social status.
Unskilled labor is paid the worst in the country:
The average rate of an employee without a degree or special knowledge is $10-13. Construction workers, truckers, and electricians earn $20-25 an hour.
If you are qualified, you will be paid significantly more. For example, the salary of a nurse starts from $70,000 a year, a teacher gets from $30,000 to 150,000 (depending on the length of service and position).
Payments for other specialists:
For more information about salaries, in-demand professions and official employment in the United States, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.
There is an unshakable rule: the higher your qualifications, degree and experience, the more you will receive and the more you are in demand in the country. Add to this an excellent knowledge of English, and your efforts to get a work visa will fully pay off with an impressive salary. You can also go here for working professions, there are plenty of offers. But profitability of this enterprise is a question for another time.
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