We No Speak Americano: The best guide for immigration to the United States

There are different visas that allow you to go to the United States depending on the activity you are going to do. Staying for short periods for tourism or business is simple, remaining for longer periods to study is not a problem either, but working usually tends to be more complicated. There is a saying for permanent residency that it is only achieved through one of the three “Ls” (Labor, Love or Lottery).

American companies can only hire individuals who are authorized to work, otherwise they would be hiring undocumented workers and risking significant fines. It is also illegal to hire a worker without verifying their authorization to work through the Form I-9 or the e-verify program. It’s also against the law to subcontract jobs to other companies that have undocumented workers. As laws in the United States are respected and enforced, employers have a strong aversion and fear of hiring anyone without permission, especially in larger companies and more professional positions. Additionally, many professions require or recommend American licenses or certifications in order to practice, such as doctors, lawyers, or engineers.

In order for an American company to hire a foreigner, either they must already have permission (such as with OPT, Green Card, etc.) or they must sponsor them for an H visa (the most common), O visa, J visa, or Green Card. But this process is costly, lengthy (it can take months), and risky (the visa may not be granted, for example, because it falls within the H lottery). Foreign companies operating in the USA have some more options with the E or L visas.

Therefore, except for very exclusive positions or in cases where there is a shortage of such professionals, American companies, in general, avoid sponsoring at all costs.

In many online job applications, they will directly ask if you have permission to work or if you need sponsorship. If so, it’s likely that they won’t even call you back. People who come with tourist visas to try for a few months really have almost no chance of being hired.

However, even though the reality is harsh, we have written this book to give you the keys and guide you towards the path that will give you the most options to achieve your goal of living and working in the USA.