For international students, pursuing work in the US is a key part of the study abroad experience: In 2019, international students contributed $41 billion to the US economy and supported more than 450,000 jobs! This guide helps you understand what you need to know to work in the US and build your future career, including what it is like working in the US,
You can work while studying or after completing your program, depending on your course load and your schedule (e.g., availability to work). Based on what is right for you, you can choose to apply for full-time, part-time, or internship roles.
Visa requirements for employment in the US
Around 140,000 employment visas are available annually for people looking to move to the US¹. While the visa process can be complex — and may take some time depending on the type of role you’re looking for, and where you’re entering the country from — there’s a lot of help out there to navigate the system. Here are some key pointers about the process.
If you’re planning on working in the US long term, you may also want to check out this guide to the employment based green card.
Application process
In most cases you’ll need a job offer before you can start to apply for a US employment visa. The only usual exception to this is for a niche category of applicants known as people of extraordinary ability who fall into the EB-1 category. In this case, self-petitioning without an employer is allowed — learn more about the EB-1 visa and green card here.
Here’s the normal process for getting a US employment visa
Prospective employer secures a labor certificate and files an immigrant petition on behalf of the employee
Once USCIS² approves the petition it is sent on to the National Visa Centre (NVC)
One a visa is available, you’ll need to pay your fee and submit the required documents to the NVC.
The wait time for a visa to come available does vary widely based on your application type and home country
You’ll need to attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate location near you
You may need to take medical tests or get vaccinations, depending on the situation
If your application is approved you’re given a set of documents to hand over to the immigration authorities when you arrive in the US. Follow the instructions carefully here to make sure your entry to the country goes smoothly
Necessary documentation
Check the paperwork you need to gather before you go to your visa interview. Typically you need the following;
- Passport
Form DS-260 - Passport photographs
Civil documents like birth and marriage certificates - Proof of financial support
Medical certificates as required
Common US entry level jobs for immigrants - Let’s take a look at some of the most common jobs for new immigrants in the USA.
- These are typically entry level roles, although recent figures suggest that immigrants are increasingly being brought into the US to take on more advanced and technical positions.
- More on that in a moment.
Here are some of the most common entry level roles for immigrants coming into the US:
- Customer service roles
- Hospitality
- Grooming and personal care positions
- Transportation work
- Tailoring and dressmaking
Manual labor positions - Agricultural roles
- Security
- Food and beverage, restaurant and dining sector
- Factory and manufacturing work
Although entry level positions may be common among new arrivals to the US, there is also a growing need for more experienced and qualified professionals.
Despite the upheaval of the Covid-19 pandemic, a recent report shows that demand for skills in computing and mathematics for example, consistently outpaces supply of talented workers, leading to calls for more immigrants in these fields to arrive to help support the economic growth of the US.
Best employment apps and websites for immigrants to find jobs in the USA
Let’s get into the details of a few popular job sites hosting jobs for immigrants in the USA.
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