U.S. Jobs for Foreigners: Everything You Need to Know (2024)

Visa Jobs
Rocio Somoza
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Published on 6 Feb 2023 Time to read 10 min read Last update on 22 Dec 2023

If you are a foreign looking for a job in the United States, this is the article you were waiting for. It doesn’t matter if you do not have work experience or if you do not speak English: there are Visa jobs for you.

Work Visas

It is important to know, first, that in order to get jobs in the United States for foreigners, it is necessary to have a work Visa. There are several options that you can choose from, depending on your situation. Only U.S. citizens with legal permanent residence and foreigners in special situations, such as refugees, can be legally hired by companies in the United States.

All other people need to have a work Visa to be able to work here legally. There are immigrant and nonimmigrant Visa classifications based on employment, and there are other categories of aliens who are eligible to apply for employment authorization.

 

Temporary Visa Jobs USA

Some people seek jobs in the United States for foreign citizens on a temporary basis. If you are interested in working on a temporary basis, you can apply for one of the following visas.

H Visa

The H Visa is for those skilled workers who seek to work for a specific period of time. It is divided into subcategories:

H-1B Visa Jobs for professionals

This Visa is for workers with a specific relationship with a foreign employer, such as research workers, professors, or professional athletes.

The H-1B temporary Visa is valid for a maximum of 6 years and is associated with a specific job.

H-2B Visa Jobs for non-professional skilled workers

This Visa is for jobs that require skilled labor but are not considered professional jobs, such as landscaping or construction work.

This Visa is valid for one year and may be renewed for the same period of time until the 3-year period is completed.

Temporary H-2A Visa: for agricultural workers

H-2A Visa is granted to temporary agricultural workers or workers with experience in animal care for specific jobs.

H-3 temporary Visa: for specific internships or training in U.S. companies

This Visa is granted to workers who want to receive specialized training in the U.S. to strengthen their skills for future professional development in their home country.

To apply for a temporary H Visa, you must have a sponsor who is willing to file a petition with USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services).

 

J-1 Visa

On the other hand, the J-1 Visa (for exchange visitors) gives you the opportunity to apply for authorization to work in the United States while you are studying in a program recognized by the U.S. Department of State.

To obtain a J-1 work authorization, you must be a foreign student in an educational program approved by the Department of State.

Once you have met all the requirements for this, your sponsor (the person responsible for the educational program) must apply for J-1 work authorization on your behalf. If you are accepted, you will receive a letter of approval and will be able to work in the U.S. for the time stated on the J-1 work authorization.

Students on a J-1 Visa may work up to 20 hours per week during the semester and 40 hours during vacation.

L-1 Visa

The L-1 Visa is for skilled workers who want to work in the U.S. for a company affiliated with the company they are currently working for abroad.

To apply for this Visa, you must be hired by a company that is affiliated with the company you currently work for.

In addition, you must have worked for the foreign company for at least 1 year out of the last 3 years, and you must be qualified to work in a senior management position or as a specialized professional.

The L-1 Visa is valid for an initial period of 3 years and can be renewed for 2-year periods up to 7 years.

E-1 Visa

The E-1 Visa is for skilled workers who wish to work in the U.S. for a foreign company with which they have a trade agreement. To apply for this Visa, you must be employed by a foreign company whose country has a trade or investment treaty with the United States. In addition, you must be qualified to work in a senior management or specialized professional position. The owners of the company may also qualify for this Visa. All of them must demonstrate that they are of the same nationality to which the company belongs.

E-2 Visa

The E-2 Visa allows an immigrant from a country with a trade treaty in force with the United States to enter the country by making a substantial investment in a U.S. company. Certain employees of this company may also qualify for this Visa.

O-1 Visa

The O-1 Visa is for qualified workers with “extraordinary ability or achievement.” To apply for this Visa, you must demonstrate that you have remarkable ability or achievement in the field of education, science, art, sport, or business.

In addition, you must prove that you will be working in a position for which such skills are required and that your work will significantly benefit the United States. The O-1 Visa is valid for up to 3 years initially and may be renewed for periods of up to 1 year.

P Visas

P visas are for skilled workers who will be working in the United States in sports, arts, or entertainment activities. To apply for a P Visa, you must be employed by a recognized company or organization in the field of sports, arts, or entertainment.

In addition, you must be qualified to work in a specific position within that field. The P-1 Visa qualifies athletes and members of recognized entertainment groups. On the other hand, the P-2 Visa qualifies for artists and members of artistic groups coming to the United States to perform under reciprocal exchange programs. The P-3 Visa qualifies for artists or entertainers coming to the U.S. under cultural programs.

R-1 Visa

The R-1 Visa is for qualified religious workers who want to work in the United States for a religious organization.

To apply for this Visa, you must be employed by a religious organization and you must be qualified to work in the ministry of that church or congregation.

In addition, you must prove that you will be working in the U.S. as part of the ministry of the church or congregation and not as a secular employee of the church or congregation.

Visa Jobs: Permanent Employment

Another option is to work permanently in the United States. To do this, you need a work-based immigrant Visa, such as the EB-1 Visa (immigrant priority worker Visa).

The EB-1 Visa allows you to work in the U.S. permanently if you have a skilled job or if you are a talented individual.

To apply for this Visa, you must have a sponsor who is willing to file a petition with USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services). If you are accepted, you will receive a work permit and will be able to work in the U.S. for the time stated on the work permit.

There is also the EB-5 Visa (immigrant investor Visa). This Visa is the fifth preference employment-based Visa, and allows you to work in the U.S. permanently if you make a significant investment in an American business.

 

Family Reunification

Another way to work in the United States is through family reunification. If you have family members who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, they can file a petition for you to join them in the United States.

Once the petition has been approved, you will be able to apply for a family worker immigrant Visa in your home country. If you are accepted, you will receive a letter of approval and will be able to work in the U.S. once you have obtained the Visa.

How to Look for Visa Jobs in the United States

Once you have decided what kind of work you want to do and what is the best way to obtain a Visa to work in the United States, it is time to start looking for a job. There are many websites where you can search for jobs in the U.S. for foreigners, as well as job boards specialized in this type of applications.

Top Web Platforms

LinkedIn: This is the social network par excellence for professionals. On LinkedIn, you can find jobs of all kinds, and it allows you to be known by large companies.

USAJOBS: This is the official website of the U.S. government jobs. On this site, you can find jobs in all levels and areas, both for citizens and foreigners.

OpcionEmpleo: This search engine allows you to group and access job opportunities published on different web platforms.

TrabajarPorElMundo: This platform has a specific section to search for jobs in the United States, where you can find many job opportunities, as well as useful tips for settling in the country.

Indeed: Indeed is currently the most popular website to search for jobs in the United States. It has a section specialized in jobs in the United States for foreigners.

CareerOneStop: This web platform specializes in jobs for foreigners, and allows you to search for jobs based on your country of origin.

These are just some of the many digital portals where you can find job offers to work in the United States. Also, in some newspapers such as the Washington Post, you can find sections where you will find published job opportunities in that area.

 

Recruitment Agencies

One of the best ways to look for a job in the United States is through recruitment agencies, as they will take care of the whole process for you.

Some of the best known agencies are:

Adecco: This agency is very popular among temporary workers, and has many jobs in the United States for foreigners.

Kelly Services: This recruitment agency works with large companies, and you will be able to find jobs at all levels.

Integrity Staffing Solutions: This agency specializes in warehouse and logistics jobs, but also offers job opportunities in other sectors.

Manpower: This recruitment agency works with many companies, so you can find jobs in all sectors.

Most Popular Visa Jobs in the United States for Spanish-Speaking Foreigners

Cleaning jobs: This is one of the most popular jobs among Spanish speakers.

Restaurant jobs: Another very popular job among Spanish speakers. This type of job requires the employee to have good social skills – or cooking skills.

Construction jobs: If you have previous experience in construction, you can easily find a job in this sector.

People care jobs: If you like dealing with people and have good social skills, you can choose to work as a caregiver for the elderly or children.

Office jobs: If you have good computer and communication skills, you can work in an office.

Visa Jobs: Conclusion

Finding Visa jobs in the United States for foreigners is not an easy task, but it is not impossible either. If you have the necessary skills and are willing to work hard, you will be able to find work in this country. There are numerous work visas available for foreigners, and you will be able to apply for one of them depending on your work situation and your skills.

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Mentioned visas

EB2-NIW (green card)

An employment-based visa intended for those who either have an advanced degrees or exceptional ability

Get NIW information

E2 Visa

An employment-based visa intended for those who either have an advanced degrees or exceptional ability

Access E-2 visa details