With an economy worth over 20 trillion USD, the United States is the biggest economic power in the world. That means that if you are from any part of the world, you cannot find a better job anywhere other than the US. However, that also means that the US is not for everyone and you need to have some serious qualities to be able to relocate to the US and find respectable work there.
Here are the things that should be necessarily considered while relocating to the US:
Decide What Visa You Want
The first thing you want to decide is what type of visa suits you. As the American job market is a very competitive one, and due to security reasons the US only lets a handful of people cross its borders, you need to be sure what you are the best suited for to increase your chances of being given a visa and eventually a job.
The main visa types for the US are the following:
- L-1 Visa: For foreign workers and also owners who are intended to transfer to any new or existing U.S. business.
- E2and E1 Visa Permits: For investors and traders.
- H-1B Visa Permit: For specialty occupations.
- H-2B Visa Permit: For non-agricultural workers.
- EB-1 Green Card: For an outstanding researcher or professor immigrant visa classification.
- EB-2 Green Card Permit: Based on Exceptional Ability.
- EB-3 Green Card Permit: For professionals, Skilled, and Other Worker.
- EB-4 Green Card Permit: For special immigrants, including religious workers.
Getting US Work Permit
Once you decide on the visa you want to get, your journey towards a prosperous life in America has just started. The next thing you need to get is the work permit. Even if an employer is ready to offer you a job in the US, you need to get a work permit from the government before you can legally start working there. If you are a non-native English speaker, you might also need to have an English language certification such as ISLETS.
Here is the list of documents required for getting a US work permit:
- Passport valid for 60 days beyond the expiration date impressed on the immigrant visa.
- Form DS-260, Alien Registration Application, and Immigrant Visa.
- Two (2) 2×2 photographs.
- Civil Documents for the applicant.
- Financial Support – At your immigrant visa interview, you must manifest to the consular officer that you will not become a public charge in the United States.
- Completed Medical Examination Forms.
Interview
After you apply for a US visa, most of the time you are required to show up at the local embassy or consulate for an interview before your visa can be approved. You must bring all the documents in the list above at the time of the interview in order for your visa to be processed.
Wait
After you have fulfilled all the requirements for a US visa and work permit and have appeared for the interview, you need to wait. The processing time for a US visa and work permit can range anywhere from 6 to 10 months. It is a good practice to hire a visa consultant and keep in touch with them to keep a track of how your visa application is doing.
Reasons for a Work Permit Being Denied
Theoretically, once you apply for a work permit you should get it if you fulfill all the requirements but not everything goes by the book when you want to relocate to the US. There are three main reasons for a work permit getting denied:
- If you have made an error filling the work permit application form, not signed it, or not entered a required value, your application will not be processed.
- Not very common but sometimes the green card application is processed faster than your work permit application and you get your green card before getting a work permit. In this case, you will have to apply again as a US citizen for a work permit.
- If the work permit issuing authority does not find you eligible for the work permit at a specific time, they can reject your work permit with or without issuing a reason.
Becoming a Permanent US Citizen
The ultimate goal for most of the people who relocate to the US is to obtain permanent residency in the US. The easiest way to do that is by getting a permanent job in the US and having your employer helping you get employment-based PR in the US. If that is not the case, you can use one of the following ways to get a green card.
- Get Employee Sponsorship
Even if your employer cannot offer you a permanent job, they can sponsor you for PR. This is not guaranteed to get you a green card but can substantially increase your chances and speed up your PR process.
- Make Investment in the US
There’s a green card plan called the EB-5 in the US that is based on employment. If you have the capital and start a business in the US, you can apply for EB-5 green card. You will have to invest nearly $200,000 in the US to get a green card this way.
- Get Family Sponsorship
If you have someone in your immediate family who has American citizenship, you can ask them to sponsor your green card which can help speed up your PR process.
Consult a Professional
In the end, it must be kept in mind that there are more people trying to relocate to the US than you think and not all applications are entertained or approved. If your case gets rejected, your name will be saved forever in the US Immigration Database. This will greatly decrease your chances of getting a US visa the next time. A professional immigration agent can present your case in the best possible format which can greatly enhance the chances of you getting a visa and work permit for the US.
Summing-up
A lot of people from around the world want to relocate to the US for a better life. If you are among them, here are the things you need to take care of:
- Visa to enter the US.
- A work permit to be legally able to work in the US.
- Permanent residency of the US to live there.
It will take somewhere between 40 to 120 days for your application to be processed. And after that, if you get the approval, you can go to the US and start working. So get out there and break a leg!
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