Foreign National Work Visa Information FAQ
Because we do not specialize in visa related issues, we have
asked Alliance
Abroad Group to put together the following Frequently Asked
Questions Section (FAQ) to help answer your questions regarding
J and H visas.
Currently, AlaskaJobFinder does not indicated which companies
hire foreign nationals in our employer
databases. We hope to
add this
sometime
in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions for Summer Work/Travel Program (J
visa) for Students
Question: Can participants travel after their work experience?
Answer: Yes, 30 days are
granted after the program ends during which students and trainees
are
free to travel. And
of course there are plenty of days off during the work program
to coordinate travel activities. But after the 30 days have
passed, they must return home or they will be in violation
of their visa status.
Question: Can I extend my visa?
Answer: Extending your
stay beyond the designated program is NOT possible. Your sponsor
is authorized to sponsor you during
the specified program period indicated on your paperwork. You
were accepted into the program and granted the Work & Travel
J-1 visa on the condition that you would depart the U.S. upon
the termination of your program. It is possible for you to
re-apply for the next summer.
Question: Do participants pay income taxes on their income?
Answer:Yes, and the amount depends on the total amount earned
in a calendar year. Generally, both Federal and State income
taxes must be paid. However, participants will have the chance
to complete documentation at the end of their stay so that
they can get most of the taxes reimbursed with the help of
our tax refund service.
Question: Do participants on J-1 Visa's pay Social Security
taxes?
Answer: Each participant must apply for a social security number,
but their J-1 visa status should exempt participants from paying
social security taxes. In applying for a social security number,
participants must have with them 2 photo identifying documents,
one of which they have had at least one year. If a participant
arrives in the U.S. with a 6-month old passport and a new driver's
license, these are not considered valid documents to apply for
a social security number. At least one official picture ID must
be dated older than one year. Birth Certificates may be accepted
as one ID.
Question: Is it necessary to have a social security number if
participants don't pay social security taxes?
Answer: Yes. Host organizations or business employers cannot
legally let student workers begin work without a social security
number. We would have some exceptions due to the SS# process
delay problems expected.
Question: If student has a long-term visitor's visa for the
USA, is it necessary to get a J-1 visa as well?
Answer: Yes. The visitor's visa prohibits working or getting
trained; all participants must obtain a J-1 visa. In applying
for a J-1 visa, the participant must demonstrate "success
at university or studies and good possibilities of a promising
future at home". This means applicant can show strong ties
to his/her home country.
Question: Is it guaranteed that the applicants will get a J-1
visa?
Answer:No. U.S. Embassy
Consuls have complete authority to approve or deny issuance of
visa for any reason. If you use a Visa Program Manager (such
as Alliance
Abroad Group), they will provide the applicant with Recommendations
and Guidelines for
filling
out the visa application. They will also usually review
your visa application carefully and if they anticipate problems,
they usually contact the overseas
agent
Frequently Asked Questions for H-2B or H-2A Seasonal Work Programs (H visa)
Question: Can a person, who already came to the U.S. once or
twice on a J visa, return on an H visa?
Answer: Yes
Question: What is the pay scale for H workers?
Answer: The pay
varies from Alaska State's minimum wage of $7.l5 per hour and
up. H workers get paid the prevailing
wage for the type of work. The rate paid will be at least the
same as U.S. workers for the same position.
Question: How long can a worker stay in the U.S. on an H visa?
Answer: Up to 10 months
Question: Can a worker on H visa come back the next year?
Answer: Yes, following a solid two months in their home country,
an H worker may reapply for another H visa. Once the worker has
had an H visa, it is easier to get another one as they have demonstrated
they have returned to their home residence once.
Question: What is the least amount of time an H worker can stay?
Answer: It depends on the company hiring you on the H visa, but
usually 4 or 5 months stay with a minimum stay of 3 months. Generally,
the fewer months requested by the employer, the wage has to offset
the worker's costs of coming to the U.S.
Question: How many months does the process take for applicants?
Answer: The Applicant should plan on applying a minimum of 90
days before the actual start date of the position.
Question: Are there any questions that Applicant needs to know
about how to respond on the application?
Answer:It is very important that the Applicant always uses his/her
country of birth, rather than citizenship. It needs to be filled
in as follows: "Guatemala" (citizenship Mexico).
Question: Does Applicant need to maintain a residence in his/her home country?
Answer: Yes. Applicant must be able to specify an address where
he/she will return upon completion of the program.
Question: Can Applicant participate in the H-2B program if he/she
has been on the program before?
Answer: Yes, however, Applicant
must notify their Visa Program Manager (if they use one) as to
the exact dates of when he/she was in the U.S., the company(s)
he/she
worked
for and the length of time.
Question: Does Applicant need to obtain a Social Security Card?
Answer: Yes. If Applicant
has previously received work permission and has a social security
number, even a non-work social security
number, you should provide this to your Visa Program Manager.
Question: Can Applicant apply at any consulate?
Answer: Applicant will have to apply where the overseas partner
tells him/her the non-immigrant visa application will be made.
Although it is usually at the consulate that has jurisdiction
over where he/she lives - it may be done in groups at any consulate.
This information is necessary when Applicant applies, as the
petition will be sent directly to the consulate that is indicated
on his/her application.
Frequently Asked Questions for H-2B Seasonal Program (H Visa)
Question: What are the most commonly requested H-2B positions?
Answer: Most H-2B positions are very "hands on" such
as construction, landscaping, dishwashing, plumbing, painting,
bricklaying, carpet laying, fisheries packing, etc. H-2A positions
are agricultural.
Question: Do H-2B workers have a 30-day grace period at the
end of their authorized employment?
Answer: No.
Question: What happens when an H-2B worker gets fired?
Answer: The employer notifies the regional labor department officials
and INS and is supposed to pay the reasonable cost of transportation
home.
Question: What happens when an H-2B worker quits?
Answer: They must return home immediately.
Question: How long is an H-2B worker required to work at his/her
host company?
Answer: An H-2B participant must work the entire length of his/her
visa. The end date stamped on his/her visa or passport is the
last day of work. They must then return home unless they have
been granted an extension.
For more information on United States Work Visas, you can visit
this list of Visa Sponsors, Program Managers and other valuable
resources:
Alliance Abroad Group
VisaNow
American Work Experience
Apex USA
Association for International Educational Exchange
BUNAC
Council on International Educational Exchange
Cultural Homestay International
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services
Interexchange
Student Work Abroad
Program (For Canadian Citizens)
Work Experience USA
Also, we recommend that you read our section on Work
Visa Options for Foreign Nationals.
