More and more South Africans want to get jobs and make money in USA because of the dynamic and diverse job market. If you want to know the requirements of work in usa for South Africa , in this article, we will reveal detailed guidelines on how to obtain a job and work visa in USA.
Do South African citizens need a visa to work in USA
Yes. Under U.S. immigration rules, South African citizens must apply for an immigration visa to legally work in the United States. If you do not have a valid visa but work in USA, it is illegal and you will face punishment.
Different types of USA work permit
There are several types of work visas available, so you need to get a suitable one that allows you to work in USA legally. Here you can check the normal USA work permit visa you want.
- H-2B Visa for Temporary Foreign Workers
- L1 Visa for Intracompany Transfers
- B-1 Visa
- O-1 Visa for Extraordinary Ability
- EB-1 visa for applicants with extraordinary abilities in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics.
- EB-2 visa for applicants with an advanced degree or exceptional skills in the arts, sciences or business
- EB-3 visa: This is the most popular employment-based visa for professionals, skilled workers (with a minimum of 2 years of experience), and other workers.
- EB-4 visa: This visa is for “special immigrants”, such as religious workers, retired employees of international organizations, etc.
- EB-5 visa This visa is for business investors who invest between $900,000 – $1.8 million in a new business.
How to find a job in USA for South African citizens
In USA, there are some of the best jobs for South African citizens. Here you can check the list of popular job jobs in usa for South African:
- Customer Service Representative
- Real Estate Agent
- Marketing Director
- Sound Engineer
- Criminal Investigator or Detective
- Commercial Pilot
- Fast-food workers
- Registered nurses
- Secretaries
- Cashiers
- Freight and stock movers
Of course, the job you apply for will depend on your willingness and ability. If you want to increase the chances of getting a job, you can follow these methods below to find a job.
- You can walk around your area looking for signs that say “Hiring” in the windows of nearby businesses.
- You can look for some job opportunities in the local newspapers with job openings from small businesses or local businesses in your neighborhood, or town.
- You can easily find a job on the best online sites, such as Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, CareerBuilder, ZipRecruiter, and Google Jobs
- You can contact reputable recruitment agencies with your CV in the USA.
Work visa requirements for South Africa
Before submitting your work visa application, you must prepare all the necessary documents. Here you can check the following requirements:
- A valid passport
- Employment offer from an American employer
- Approved labour certification
- DS-260 confirmation page
- Medical documents
- Vaccine documents
- Two photos that meet U.S. visa photo requirements
- Clear criminal records
- Resume
- Proof of family ties in your home country
- Property documents
- Proof that you meet the criteria for the category you are applying for
To avoid rejection of work visa application, you must prepare all your paperwork and additional requirements.
How to apply for American work visa for South African
After you have prepared all the necessary documents, you can apply for an employment visa. Most applicants will go through the application process as follows:
- Your employer or yourself must file an immigration petition with USCIS.
- If there is a visa available in your category, You can submit a visa application to the U.S. Department of State.
- You must pay the non-refundable Nonimmigrant Visa Application Fee and keep the payment receipt.
- Then you need to make an appointment to submit the application form, required documents and provide biometric information, such as fingerprints, photos and a signature.
- You need to attend an interview to answer some questions.
- You can wait for the decision on your application.
- If your application is approved, you can pick up the work visa after several weeks.
Work as student in the USA
If South African students want to get a part-time job in the USA, there are several restrictions that you should know:
- If you have an F1 visa, it allows you to work on campus for no more than 20 hours per week during term time.
- After the first academic year, you can engage in three variations of off-campus employment: Curriculum Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM optional practical training extension (STEM OPT).
- Students can work full-time during school holidays or annual breaks.
- If you want to work in the USA after graduation, you need to apply for the relevant visa to work and continue your life in the United States.
Work visa for partner/family members
If you want to bring your partner and family members to the United States with you, you can include your spouse and unmarried children (under 21) in your EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 visa application.
- When you apply for EB-1, your dependants can come to the United States on an E-14 or E-15 immigrant status.
- When you apply for an EB-2 visa, your dependants can come to the United States on E-21 and E-22 immigrant status.
- When you apply for an EB-3 Visa, your dependants may be eligible to apply for an E34, an EW4 an E35 or an EW5 immigrant status.
Work as self-employed
Most U.S. work visas require an employer to sponsor an applicant from overseas. If you are a self-employed professional who wants to work in the USA, there is no direct self-employment visa. However, freelancers can apply for the O-1 Visa, or the Individual of Extraordinary Ability or Achievement visa.
How long does it take to get work visa
It usually takes between 3 and 4 weeks to process your work visa application. However, the processing time varies greatly depending on USCIS processing times, the type of work visa application you are submitting, and the volume of the visa application.
How much does USA work visa cost
The cost of a U.S. work visa will depend on the type of visa and additional fees. Usually, the most common fees for nonimmigrant work visa sponsorship may cost you between $400 and $600, which includes the petition fee, application fee, etc. Some visas are required to pay a fraud prevention and detection fee, which may cost you $500.
Tips for working in America
Once you have got a job in America, you should take these tips below to create a better workplace and immerse yourself into the work environment.
- You should maintain a positive attitude, because optimistism can help you stay focused on your goals and achieve success.
- You should keep clear and concise communication in business conversations with the customer or your colleagues.
- You must be punctual. No matter what company you work for, you must know that being on time is important in American workplace culture. It can show that you are well prepared to take your job.
- You should try as many as job hunting websites, press to find the most suitable job you can work for.
- You should be bold, honest and open to your job. If you experienced any discrimination or injustice at your company, you need to protect yourself with the weapon of law.
- When you have an job interview, you should avoid monopolizing conversation and find a middle ground between being pushy and weak. Don’t forget to prepare your resume for the interview.
FAQ
Can I work remotely for a US company from South Africa?
The answer is yes. You can work remotely for a US company from South Africa. Many companies in US offer remote positions, so you can find a remote job if you have the necessary skills and a reliable internet connection.
How much does it cost to immigrate to the USA from South Africa?
The cost of immigration the USA from South Africa will vary depending on how long you get it. The process of obtaining permanent residence or citizenship is a long and costly process, ranging from $4,000 to $11,300.
What is the easiest work visa to get in the US?
EB-3 is the easiest visa for South African citizens because it is available to other workers who do not have many skills. Every year, more than 5,000 unskilled South African workers with this visa can work for USA companies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many job opportunities for South Africans if they want to make some money in the USA. It is necessary to know which work visa they should obtain and obey the local work culture when foreign workers get a job there.
Erin Lo