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US Working Visa

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  • 25-02-2013 10:12pm
    #1
    dunner515
    Registered Users Posts: 310 ✭✭


    Hi Guys

    A friend and I are thinking of traveling to the USA for a year and we are hoping to see the sights and do some work here and there. We are wondering what our visa options would be? we have been researching online and all we can find is a 12 month working with companies like "USIT" etc.... but there are certain requirements to meet e.g being a full or part time student or have graduated from college within the last 12 months.

    Problem is one of us is in full time employment and the other is not employed and we are both hoping to do this traveling before we settle down into a career.
    So what options have we got?

    Cheers
    Tagged:


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    #2
    ProudDUB
    Registered Users Posts: 11,569 ✭✭✭✭ProudDUB


    Hate to be a kill joy, but you don't have any options really. As your online research has indicated, the US only give out 12 month work visas to recent or current college students.

    What line of work are you in? There are a few professions that the US currently has a severe shortage in, such as nursing. If you work in one of those professions, you may have a shot at finding an employer who would sponsor you for a work permit. However, unless your friend is your civil partner, or fiance or spouse, your visa would not cover them too.

    Another option is to find a job over there, or an Irish company here, who needs an employee based in the US. Your employer would then petition for a visa/work permit on your behalf. The company applies for the visa for you, you do not do it yourself. As that process can take up to $5000 per applicant, the companies who are willing to do that for their employees would be few and far between.

    Regarding the traveling to the US and seeing the sights, under the current ESAT visa waiver program, you can only spend a maximum 90 days in the US at at time. You can not work while you are there. If you intend staying that long, you have to show proof at Immigration that you have enough money to support yourself while you are in the US & that you will not have to look for work illegally.

    I know I sound very pessimistic, but its the USA. Half the planet wants to live and or work there, so they are rather selective on who they let in.


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