Millions of individuals throughout the world want to work in the United States, and the Internet is full of information explaining how to do so. The difficulty is that most of these are success stories, and few individuals discuss potential pitfalls. When you start thinking about relocating to America and look up the initial possibilities, everything appears to be a difficult undertaking. As a result, working for a worldwide corporation with operations in the United States may appear to be the most convenient option. The argument is clear: if you prove yourself and then want a move to a foreign office, why should you be denied? In most circumstances, you will not be turned down, but your prospects of coming into America will not improve significantly.
Of course, there are examples of successful professional immigration along this road, but in everyday life, especially if you are a competent employee, it is most likely best for the employer if you stay in your current position as long as feasible. This is particularly true for those who begin in junior roles. Gaining expertise and reputation inside the organization will take so long that you will be prepared to apply for a transfer several years later. It is far more effective to work in a well-known international company (for a nice line on your resume), actively engage in self-education, communicate with colleagues from other companies, improve your professional level, develop your own projects, and look for opportunities to relocate on your own. This approach appears more difficult, yet it might save you a few years of your career.
Mistake 1 - Relying Too Heavily on a Possible Employer
Simply being an experienced specialist does not ensure that you will be permitted to operate in the United States. This is understood, which is why many people choose the path of least resistance and seek out an employer who can sponsor a visa and relocation. It is crucial to note that if this strategy is adopted, everything will be extremely comfortable for the relocating employee - after all, the firm pays for everything and handles the paperwork - but this technique also has considerable drawbacks.
To begin, the employer incurs costs in excess of $10 per employee for document preparation, legal expenses, and state fee payment. At the same time, if they have a standard American H1B work visa, this does not guarantee that they will be able to profit right away.
The issue is that work visas are given at a far lower rate than they are requested each year. It turns out that more than 130 thousand people found an employer willing to pay them a wage and support their migration, but they were not granted a visa since they were not picked in the lottery.
It makes sense to wait a bit longer and apply for a work visa in the United States on your own. You can acquire it as an experienced professional in your industry; there are no quotas or lotteries in this situation, so you can come in and start working straight away. Compare yourself to job applicants who are sitting overseas waiting for a sponsor and then must enter a lottery - their chances are significantly lower.
Mistake 2 - Inattention to Language Learning
It is critical to recognize that if you wish to work in an English-speaking nation, knowledge of the language will be required. Of course, in-demand technical professionals will be able to find work despite their limited English skills, but even a conditional system administrator, much alone a marketer, would have significant challenges. Furthermore, mastery of the language will be required at the very beginning of the job hunt - creating a CV.
According to data, HR managers and executives in charge of hiring people spend no more than 7 seconds reviewing resumes. After that, they either read it thoroughly or on to the next applicant. Furthermore, about 60% of resumes are rejected because they include grammatical problems and typos.
To prevent such scenarios, you must continuously study the language, practice, and employ auxiliary tools (for example, here's a nice list of Chrome addons to aid language learners), such as mistake and typo detection.
Mistake 3 - Lack of Active Networking
It is obvious that there is nothing worse for introverts, but if you want to have a great job in America, the more diverse contacts you establish, the better. For starters, the availability of references will be important, including in acquiring a work visa (the same O-1), so networking will be beneficial even at home.
Second, having a few local pals around right after the transfer will help you save a lot of effort and even money. These people will tell you how to look for an apartment to rent, what to look for when buying a car (for example, in the United States, a car title can be of various types, which say a lot about the car's status - past accidents, twisted mileage, etc. - it is unlikely to know all of this before moving), and how to enroll children in kindergarten. The importance of such recommendations cannot be overstated; they may save you thousands of dollars, a lot of anxiety, and time.
Third, having an extended network of contacts on LinkedIn might be immediately advantageous in terms of employment. If you have old colleagues or new contacts who work in reputable firms, you can ask them to suggest you for one of the vacant positions. Large firms (such as Microsoft and Dropbox) frequently offer internal portals where workers may send CVs to HR of persons they believe are qualified for unfilled positions. Such applications normally take precedence over letters from strangers, so having a large network of contacts will help you get an interview sooner.
Mistake 4 - Insufficient Financial Savings
If you want to pursue an international job, you must recognize the dangers and potential expenses. If you self-issue a visa, you will be responsible for the cost of drafting the petition as well as any applicable state costs. Even if the company pays for everything in the end, you will need to choose an apartment (with a security deposit), deal with the stores, determine if you need a car and, if so, how to acquire it, where to send the children to kindergarten, and so on.
In general, there will be many household concerns that will require money to resolve. The more money you have in your bank account, the simpler it will be to get through this turbulent moment. If every dollar counts, each problem or unexpected expenditure (which will be common in a new nation) would increase the pressure.
Becoming a permanent resident or citizen of the United States is an exciting and expensive process. This shift typically costs between $4,000 and $11,300, with the majority of people spending between $6,000 and $8,000. This number covers numerous expenses associated with the legal procedure, ranging from visa application to citizenship, stressing the financial side of relocating to the United States.
Many people prefer to hire immigration lawyers since visa applications are complicated. A lawyer's fees can range from $1,000 and $5,000, depending on the amount of sophistication. Furthermore, unanticipated occurrences, such as procedural delays or requests for extra documentation, can significantly increase expenses. As a result, while applying for a visa to the United States, it is critical to factor in these prospective fees.