Job application in the US without work permit?

Question

I live in Europe and I am currently trying to find a job in the US. I do not have a work permit yet though, as I was told that I would have to find a potential employer first. My question is, when I apply for jobs now, do I mention the fact that I do not have a work permit yet in my application/cover letter? If so, how's the best way to say that?

Thanks a lot for any help!

Answer 1

Generally advertisements will say when they are work permit eligible. If they do not, it is unlikely but not impossible. Some jobs are never work permit eligible such as tax-payer funded positions (teaching, police, government etc) or any unskilled position.



How to ask? First do your research so that you know where the low hanging fruit is. The list of occupations is available on the internet. If yours is not on that shortage list, you would need to have something unique about your education and experience. Then, when you find a job opening, contact them first to ask if they would consider a foreign applicant with an explanation of why you think you would be eligible for a work permit. This may be a new concept for them.



Whatever you do, do not just apply without telling them. I have been in this position as an employer and nothing is more infuriating than going through the recruitment process only to find you are interviewing someone who does not have the right to work. Finding out after the fact is a guaranteed way to make sure you do not get a work permit.



Otherwise, find a company in your own country that has US operations and get employed there. It does not have to be a US company. After a couple of years, you may be able to get a transfer with an L class visa which is much easer to obtain. You will still need at least an undergraduate degree and two years of relevant experience.

Answer 2

You absolutely must mention that you do not have legal authorization to work in the US, and will need the employer to sponsor you for an employment visa.



Before you apply anywhere for anything, you must ensure that you meet ALL requirements for some type of employment visa! AND you must meet current employer demands above & beyond legal requirements. E.g. for H1-b, the law allows for those with bachelor's degrees PLUS experience in STEM occupations to be eligible for such a visa. However, no employer will consider anyone with less than a master's plus experience in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) occupation.



Actually, even Americans who graduated in the top 10% of their class from top-rated US schools of engineering are having trouble finding jobs the past couple of years. Highly unlikely you can find any work whatsoever in the US. Real US unemployment rate remains over 23%, and another 33% of the US workforce is self-employed - so they don't have jobs either.



AVOID any "consultant" or "agent" as these are scams, frauds. Only an actual end-user employer can hire any qualified foreign employee & apply for any visa for them. AVOID anyone who asks for any sort of fee to "help" you find a job - FRAUD, SCAM!



So what are your qualifications? What degrees do you hold from which universities where, and what experience do you have to the point where you have developed specialized expertise unavailable among the 33+ million Americans currently looking for work?

Answer 3

the employer has to get your visa ...you cannot

a degree is the minimum qualification



Pick a visa





There are basically NINE ways that you can get a visa to live and work in the US:



(1) Marriage (or engagement in anticipation of marriage) to a US citizen.



(2) You have skills that are in short supply in the US e.g. scientific or medical training. A degree is normally a must. Or you have superior specialist skills with at least 12 years experience. (H visas)applications next received on 1st April 2014



(3) You have an Employer who is willing to transfer you - but even the employer has to make a good case for you - so you have to be a manager unless you fall under category (2) above.(L visas)



(4) You may get a Green card in the diversity lottery (UK citizens, except N.Ireland, are not generally eligible unless you, your spouse or parents were born abroad or held a different citizenship.



(5)You own or buy business (does not get you permanent resident status i.e. no green card)You must be a national of a qualifying Treaty countries. The business must have a minimum value of around $150k (more the better) bearing in mind you will need somewhere to live and with any startup business you will need at least 2 years living money as back up. So a figure of $350k would be a nearer minimum (E-2 visas)



(6)You are an "investor" i.e. you have at least US $1m in assets to bring with you. half of that in a few areas. And your background will be investigated to the hilt. (EB-5 visas)



(7)You have a close relative (mother, father, brother, sister and no further) who is an US citizen who would sponsor you, approx time this take 2-12 years?



(8.The R1 visa is available to foreign members of religious denominations, having bona fide non-profit religious organizations in the U.S., for entering the U.S. to carry on the activities of a minister or religious worker as a profession, occupation or vocation



(9)THE UNUSUAL You are in a position to claim refugee status/political asylum. or You get a member of Congress to sponsor a private bill with legislation that applies just to you.

The S visa issued to persons who assist US law enforcement to investigate and prosecute crimes and terrorist activities such as money laundering and organized crime





Recruitment agent will not take you seriously if you are not already in the US. Writing for jobs is really a waste of time; likewise US employers have no idea what foreign qualification are or mean (except Degrees) it may pay you to get your qualification translated into a US equivalent, there are Companies that do this (www.wes.org) ..

But if you are getting a visa under (2) above then you need a job offer before you can get the visa. Your Employer will be your sponsor this will cost them upward of $5k. So you can see you have to be offering something really special to get considered They may also have to prove to the Dept of labor that there is no American who can do the job if the position is to be permanent ©

DO NOT USE VISA CONSULTANTS

Answer 4

You would say that you are looking for sponsorship. In the US it's the employer, not the employee, that has to apply for a work visa for you. They would have to pay to sponsor you and would have to prove to the government that despite extensive advertising, there are no Americans who are qualified to fill the position. The two biggest sectors sponsoring foreign workers are tech companies (computer programmers, systems analysts, engineers) and universities (researchers, visiting professors)

Answer 5

Only your employer can apply for a work visa for you so yes you better mention it. You must have a masters degree or PhD in a high demand field and valuable work experience. The employer must be one who is allowed to sponsor foreign workers and the position must be one no American can do. The job must be in a high tech field.