“America is sobering: you need to work tirelessly and without vacation” Russians who won a green card talk about how moving to the USA changed their lives

Ways to find work in the USA

There are several ways to legally work in America. You can study job sites from home or go to interviews with companies while traveling on a tourist visa. It is also possible to contact specialized agencies or an intermediary who take on part of the work themselves.

Search for vacancies in your country

There are two ways to look for work in the USA for Russians while in the CIS: on special websites or by contacting representatives of the diaspora who have moved to America. They remember how difficult it was for them at the beginning of their American careers, so they support migrants. Some people open companies and prefer to hire compatriots with American citizenship as part of their team.

Employers are looking for employees on specialized online sites Monster or Craiglist and often agree to hire a foreign specialist. American employees are very demanding of employers, so it is easier for companies to post vacancies on world-famous sites and find a higher-level foreign professional with fewer requests. The downside of the search method is a long series of interviews.

Search for vacancies in the USA

Students studying on a student visa who need work in America for Russian speakers contact separate training centers. There are vacancies posted there in the USA, for which they hire a specialist with incomplete education.

Those who have completed their studies will have to come as a tourist, prepare a resume and go for interviews directly with the companies they like. Tips on how to make your job search more effective:

• prepare a resume that will not only tell you about your qualifications, experience and achievements, but also stand out from the gray mass;
• write a cover letter that is attached to each vacancy. Ideally, letters should be individual for all interviews, but you can prepare a universal template;
• fill out a profile on LinkedIn - this is a kind of business card for the applicant;
• prepare as complete a story as possible for 30-45 seconds to make an impression. As practice shows, you can meet a potential employer not only in business centers, but also on the street, at the airport, and in shops.

Then all that remains is to go for interviews directly with interesting companies. The more interviews you complete, the higher your chance of getting a job and getting to America.

Search independently or through an agency

There are advantages and disadvantages to using an agency. A common problem faced by those who need Russian jobs in America is fraud. Dishonest companies ask a foreign citizen to first pay an insurance premium and only then guarantee permanent employment. In fact, after receiving the money, the intermediary disappears.

To avoid falling for the tricks of unscrupulous specialists, you need to carefully study reviews of companies. Here are the exchanges that have proven themselves:

• “Employment agency NY” helps not only to quickly find a job (including for prestigious vacancies such as a broker, international journalist, ship crew representative), but also provides assistance in obtaining visas and social adaptation in a new country after emigration;
• “Russian America INC” helps doctors and nurses obtain a license to work in the medical industry;
• the Fish Alaska program employs foreign residents in Alaska;
• The Mariage LTD portal specializes in finding jobs in the hotel and restaurant business.

When looking for work on your own in different industries (policeman, security guard, worker), you can use well-known English-language portals - aecjobbank.com, beyond.com.

Tourist visa

There are other ways to travel to America. One way is to obtain a B-1/B-2 tourist visa. The B-1 visa is issued for short-term business trips (visiting exhibitions, conferences, symposiums, negotiating with business partners).

The B-2 visa is suitable for personal travel, such as visiting relatives, receiving medical care, etc. Often these two types of visas are issued simultaneously and for a certain period.

To obtain a visa, you need to answer the consul the following questions about the purpose of the trip, availability of permanent residence in your own country, and financial security for living in the United States.

To apply for these types of visas, you must fill out an application electronically, have a 5x5 cm photograph and a passport, the validity of which is six months longer than the duration of your stay in the United States.

Many people don’t know, but with a tourist visa you can legalize yourself in the country by changing your tourist status to student, and student to worker.

The cost of visas for business travel and tourist visas is $160.

How to get a US tourist visa on your own?

Popular professions and specialties

The most in-demand and highest-paid professions in the country are two different things. Here is a list of positions required:

• sales consultants in stores. They earn $26 thousand (less than the national average annual salary), but the specialty does not require special skills;
• restaurant and hotel business - waiters, hotel hostesses, bartenders, cooks, pastry chefs and dishwashers. Minimum salary - 19-20 thousand dollars;
• secretaries and administrative sector workers receive 30-45 thousand dollars;
• caregivers, nurses, and other junior medical staff in foreign clinics receive 65-75 thousand dollars;
• builders;
• call center employees have a high salary of $40 thousand.

Representatives of medical specialties, marketing, financial industry, oil production and IT programmers expect high salaries. Russian-speaking teachers and agricultural specialists who are ready to work on farms are in demand

Navigator of illegal work

The chosen period of travel plays an important role in finding work in America. The end of autumn - the beginning of winter is considered the most unfavorable period of the seasons. Accordingly, the end of spring - beginning of summer increases the success rate.

Typically, the rating in areas of employment in illegal work is arranged in the following order:

• 1st place - agriculture.
• 2nd place - construction.
• 3rd place - catering and service sector.

Legal work in the USA

There are three categories of people who legally get a job in America:

• temporary employees with a work visa and an agreement with the employing company;
• permanent employees who have received a Green Card and work for American companies without special permission;
• students with a student visa who have received a separate permit to work in an educational institution.

Finding a job in the right industry in the States is not enough. The hiring and relocation process involves several stages.

Official employment

Official employment of migrants occurs according to quotas. To get a place, you must first send a petition, then undergo an interview at the embassy and become one of the quota holders.

It is possible to move not for a season, but for a long period of time, if the emigrant has refugee status and is sponsored by an American (or an American company). The applicant must also prove the presence of investments in the company.

Applying for a work visa

Obtaining a work visa for Russians to work in America allows employees to get seasonal, temporary work and live in the country for up to six months. Documents are submitted for the following areas:

• H1B - for migrants with higher education. Issued to architects, medical personnel, lawyers, engineers, electricians;
• L1 - for employees who work in American branches;
• E is suitable for registered investors;
• J is issued to those who come to the United States for an exchange or internship;
• B - for entrepreneurial work for a short period.

To receive a card, you need to collect a package of documents. You need a diploma from a higher educational institution, proof of employment, a foreign passport with sufficient validity, and a receipt for the paid consular fee. The employer must also invite a specialist in writing; a completed application form in English and a photograph are also required.

Work permit for foreigners

To obtain a work permit, you must completely fill out Form I-765. With this application you must submit two photographs, copies of your passport, and Form I-94. It is also necessary to provide a copy of a document that will confirm that the Russian actually submitted a package of papers to the migration service.

Diploma nostrification

An important part of employment for any position, including a cook, nanny and other professions, is confirmation of an education document. Procedure:

1. The applicant makes an official translation of the document into American English.
2. Sends the translated diploma and other documents to America.
3. Receives a response package of documents along with a certificate confirming the authenticity of the diploma.

To get a job, you need to make a correct translation of your diploma. Check with the employer which translation is required - regular or notarized with an apostille. In some cases, it is necessary to convert Russian grades in a diploma to the American point system.

Procedure for obtaining a work visa

Employment in the United States for Russians begins with obtaining the appropriate permit.

Employment visas are divided into work and business . Let's see how they differ, what are the conditions for receiving them, and list the documents required for their preparation.

Work Visa

As a rule, US immigrant work visas are issued based on the request of a US employer , provided that hiring a foreigner will not negatively affect the situation of the local population.

Depending on the category of the applicant, the type of employment and the validity period, work visas are divided into categories .

H-1B visa

This is the most popular type of work visa. It is issued to highly qualified Russian specialists with extensive work experience when applying for employment in the United States.

The conditions for receiving it are as follows:

1. The applicant must receive a job offer from a US organization. He must also hold a qualified position in a certain field and qualify for the average salary in the region.
2. The applicant has a diploma confirming higher education. The minimum required candidate degree is a bachelor's degree . The diploma must be recognized by the USA. An alternative to higher education is work experience in a specialty for at least twelve years (three years of such professional activity is equivalent to one year of study at a university).
3. Those considering medical or legal positions may need to be licensed.

The validity period of such a visa is three years . The employee has the right to extend it up to six years - there is time to do everything necessary to receive the coveted Green Card. This document gives the right to freely reside and work in the States.

H-2B visa

This is a temporary permit that is only issued to seasonal workers . The visa is suitable for those who want to earn money by doing unskilled seasonal work at resorts or construction sites, and do not plan to remain in America in the future.

This visa is valid for one year , in some cases it can be extended to three years.

Other categories of US work visas

In addition, foreigners for the purpose of employment in the States can obtain the following types of work visas:

1. H-1B3 is a subcategory of the H-1B visa (issued to high-profile models working in the United States).
2. H-1C (registered nurses).
3. H-2A (agricultural workers).
4. H-3 (trainees in American companies).
5. Q-1 (for foreigners staying in America on a cultural exchange program).
6. O-1 (especially talented foreigners in the field of sports, art, science and education).
7. P-1 (outstanding cultural and artistic figures, athletes, entrepreneurs for participation in certain events or competitions).
8. R-1 (religious figures).

Documentation

To open a work visa to the USA, you need to collect a package of documents and provide the relevant information:

1. FULL NAME. and the position held by a representative of an organization acting as an employer. His signature must be on all necessary papers.
2. Information about the organization being hired: field of activity, number of employees, IRS tax number and date of foundation.
3. Work experience and a list of your professional achievements.
4. The name of the position you are being hired for and a list of your job responsibilities.
5. The amount of the promised salary.
6. Completed Form I-94.
7. A copy of your passport.
8. Immigration documents.
9. Summary.
10. Photos.
11. Diplomas with transcripts of grades.
12. Information about the current status of the employee in America.
13. Description of professional skills.

Business visa

Business visas are issued to managers, specialists and individuals to conduct business activities.

Depending on the basis for issuance, they come in several types:

L-1 visa

This visa is obtained by directors or top managers of certain companies when they are transferred to a branch of a foreign organization operating in the United States. It is issued for a period of three to seven years , depending on the position of the applicant.

An important requirement here will be confirmation of the official employment of the employee specifically in this organization, and his work experience in it must be more than one year .

This visa is divided into several types:

1. The L-1A visa is intended for top managers or management personnel.
2. The L-1B visa is issued to executive directors and other individuals acting on behalf of the head of a firm. These are long-term visas that allow company employees to move from one branch to another across America. Three years after receiving such permission, the employee has the right to apply for permanent residence.
3. The L-1B visa is issued to highly specialized specialists who are in demand abroad due to their impressive experience in a particular field, and there is a need to transfer them to a branch or representative office of the company in the States.

L-2 visa

This type of visa is intended for spouses, children and other family members of foreign employees traveling to perform official duties in the United States. There are no subcategories here.

EB visa

For persons traveling to the United States in connection with business activities, the following categories of EB visa are available:

1. The EB-1 visa is intended for aliens under certain business programs engaged in research, scientific, cultural or sports fields.
2. The EB-2 visa is issued to doctors and other health care professionals required to undergo training abroad.
3. The EB-3 visa is issued to highly paid, rare specialists in a narrow field who have certain merits.
4. The EB-4 visa is intended for government employees and representatives of religious organizations.
5. More than ten thousand EB-5 visas This type of permit allows you to create a small business, invest your capital in certain areas, and organize the influx of financial resources from foreign countries.

Required documents

In case of opening a company or sending an employee to the USA, the following documents are provided to the Consulate:

• certificate of organization of a branch of an international company in America;
• identification certificate of an organization in America;
• an annual bank account statement confirming the profitability of the company;
• agreement on long-term lease or purchase of commercial premises for business placement;
• an order to transfer an employee to the States, a letter confirming his qualifications, knowledge and work experience for transfer to a branch, representative office or company in the United States;
• the employee must submit: a foreign passport with copies of all completed pages, a diploma confirming his qualifications, a copy of his work record book, a certificate of income, an English language certificate, documents on marriage and birth of children (if the family is traveling with him);
• A medical certificate and international insurance are required for all employees;
• payment of state duty (for each employee and his family members).

Consequences of illegal employment

It is impossible to get a job illegally in highly paid positions and well-known companies. Typically, illegal immigrants work as nurses, construction workers, and laborers. In some cases, an illegal device is a home-based job for a remote freelancer, or an unofficial summer job for a teenager. However, hiring an illegal immigrant is dangerous and unprofitable for companies: they face a fine that is 10 times more than the salary of an unofficial employee. The employee’s punishment is also serious: a ban on legal employment or deportation from the country.

Right to work for foreign citizens

Each immigrant is assigned his own status. He may prohibit work in America. If you have a work permit, you can officially get a job without coordinating the issue with the American authorities. The status of an immigrant depends on the program under which the applicant came for a residence permit; more about this in our article How to obtain a residence permit in the USA.

To work in the USA you will need not only knowledge of English and a visa. A special permit will be required, which is obtained on the basis of Form I-765 from the Official Website of the Department of Homeland Security. It is accompanied by a package of documents that depend on the category of citizen. Read our article about how to obtain a work permit, how to fill out the form and what additional documents you will need.

Refugees do not need special permission to work in the United States, as they are immediately issued a special form. All documents will need to be translated into English. Copies must be certified by a notary. If all is well, the applicant will be invited to take biometric indicators.

Table: advantages and disadvantages of working in the USA

There are pros and cons to the US. Before looking for vacancies and organizing your daily life, you need to study the advantages, disadvantages and draw your own conclusions.

In addition to work issues, among the direct shortcomings it is worth noting everyday difficulties: unusual weather for Russians, lack of familiar products.

Practice and internship programs

Students and graduates of educational institutions can gain good work experience in America and establish themselves in the overseas labor market. To apply for an internship, you must:

• find a sponsor from America - usually these are agencies;
• get registered in the vacancy database and select the one you need;
• receive an invitation to an internship from the company, sign it and send it back;
• receive and sign a contract for temporary work.

To submit an application, you need a package of documents: a resume in two languages, a nostrified diploma, a couple of letters of recommendation, an appeal to the employer, a foreign language test and photographs.

Internship

A unique opportunity to immigrate to the United States is an internship. As a result of completing internship programs, you can gain international experience in professional practice, become familiar with the peculiarities of doing business in America, and also improve your language level.

There are two main internship programs in America:

Internship Program

The first target audience is university students or young professionals who graduated from university less than a year ago, their age is 18–28 years.

Trainee Program

The duration of the program ranges from 1 to 18 months. Persons who have a diploma of education and work experience in the chosen profile for at least one year are allowed to participate in the program. If there is no diploma, five years of relevant professional experience is required. The age category of participants is 20–38 years. The duration of the internship is the same as in the first program.

To apply for an internship in the United States, you first need to select an employer representing the internship location. You must also select a sponsor, which is an organization authorized by the US Department of State to issue the DS-2019 document.

After this, the applicant undergoes an interview, which determines the level of professional knowledge and language proficiency.

After successfully passing the interview, you need to complete the DS-2019 document. After completing this stage, it is necessary to obtain a visa. After completing all stages, you can go to America and do an internship.

The cost of an internship is determined by its duration and varies from $1000 to $2500.

Business immigration as a way to move to the USA

Along with the popular winnings in the Green Card lottery, marriage to an American woman or an American (including guest marriage), investing is used for moving. This is a relatively simple way to get a Green Card, go to live in the USA and stay there for 3-5 years. There are two ways to get to America in 2021:

• opening a branch of the company in the United States;
• work in the USA under an employment contract.

The immigrant will bring the entire family to the USA, including children, husband or wife, parents (including pensioners, widowers).

H1B work visa

You can go to the United States to work by applying for an H1B work visa, which allows an American employer to hire a foreign worker for up to 6 years.

This visa is designed for professionals with specialized knowledge. To obtain it, you need a request from the employer for the employee’s entry. Thanks to this visa, the candidate has a chance of obtaining permanent residence.

Persons with an education diploma and 3 years of professional experience can apply for a visa. After graduation, 3 years must also pass.

During the visa process, the employer requests the applicant's labor certificate and then fills out Form I-129. Next, the candidate receives a visa at the American consulate or a status visa if he is already in the United States.

The cost of a work visa is quite high: from $1,500 to $6,000.

Learn more about H1B work visa, salaries and job openings in the USA

Reviews from Russians about getting a job in the USA

Moving to America and looking for work causes mixed feelings among foreigners. Almost everyone claims in their reviews that it is difficult to manage life alone, without support. We have to start with low-paid professions: working at a car wash, as a truck driver, as a car driver, as a housekeeper in a cleaning company. All this is reflected in the standard of living.

A more interesting career path awaits representatives of creative professions - architects, illustrators and designers receive a Green Card a little easier and leave for America with the prospect of obtaining permanent residence if they organize several exhibitions.

“If you try to lie, the path is closed”

Many people are afraid of going through an interview for an American visa - and rightly so. Everything is very serious, you need to be 1000% ready, no jokes. Our lawyer chased me through all the questions they could ask. You only need to tell the truth during the interview, because at that moment they already know everything about you. If you try to lie, the path is closed. They may never give you a visa again.

By the time of the interview, my husband came to support me, he was even allowed to be present during the conversation. In general, we can say that I was lucky: I was asked a couple of formal questions and was given a green card. My husband and I were crying like crazy – because how long can we do this?

At that time, I had already given up my apartment, said goodbye to friends and relatives, packed my bags and was on my way to the interview with tickets to America. Therefore, the next day after the interview we flew there.