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I have lost 4 job opportunities in the past month due to issues with visa and work authorization. Starting September, I will not be able to work for pay in the United States.
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Do you know the difference between OPT, H1B, O1, J1, H4, EB1, EB2 NIW immigration statuses? Do forms I-765, 129, 140, 485 mean anything to you? My life currently revolves around permutations of these alphanumerals.
I was on OPT, which gives international students ONE year after graduating from a degree program to get their shit together. I did not have my shit together. The equivalent in Canada is typically 3 years.
To obtain work authorization again, I have to find a job first. But finding a job w/o work permit is hard. Not all employers are willing to sponsor work visas. Even if employers want to hire me, they have to be willing to wait for at least 3-4 months before the visa is approved.
Except in highly rare cases, work permits are employer-specific. If you lose your job (which many have during the pandemic) or change jobs, you are back to square one. Job search and visa apps again. H1B, O1, J1...
While on employer-sponsored work visa, you are also not allowed to take on additional contract-based work, projects, gigs. You work for your employer, that’s it.
I am writing this to show how restrictive the US immigration system is as is, and how burdensome it can be on immigrants.
Also, please connect me with job opportunities. I do multimethod research on ethnic media, immigrant communities, local journalism, misinformation, etc. In the mean time, I am open to collaborate and consult (for free, of course).
cc @dhgerson @andreawenzel @fionamorgan
cc @dhgerson @andreawenzel @fionamorgan
