Work Visas vs Exchange Visa
The conference depicted the labor market situation in the US, focusing on three different architectural experiences and covering:
- the architectural world of the Academia as a professor of architecture;
- the different options to work in the US as an architect with work viasas or exchange visas and the benefits of participating in Architect-US Professional Career Training Program.
- and how to open your own architecture studio in the US.
If you could not attend the symposium, you won’t miss out on anything watching the entire panel discussion in here:
Here are the main topics our Executive Director discussed during the panel (min 41 to 1h10):
1_ECONOMIC CRISIS:
The Economic Crisis of 2008-2014 brought a steep employment drop in the field of Architecture and Construction in Spain that caused a mass professional immigration:
Where all these architects emigrated to?
Why did only 2% of Architects chose the United States? The main reason is simply explained: immigration bureaucrazy barriers and the difficulties of getting a work visa. The U.S. Government Exchange J1 Visa Program can be the solution and Architect-US can help you with that by sponsoring your J1 visa and facilitating all the red tape arrangements.
2_ WHAT DOES USA OFFER ARCHITECTS?
3_ WHAT TYPES OF VISAS CAN USE AN ARCHITECT TO ACCESS THE AMERICAN LABOR MARKET?
OPTION 1: H1-B visa. Difficult to obtain!
Problems:
- Very limited options. UCIS only issues 65,000 H1-B visas per year (to all countries and all disciplines) and since 2013 they registered more than 100,000 applications the same day application opens! The cap gets reached within a day.
- Rigid and limited timeframe. You can only apply for an H1-B visa on April 1st and if approved you’ll be only able to start working on October 1st.
- High commitment for the Company. The Company must sponsor the international covering all realted expenses, adquiring a 3 years commitment with the employee, which makes american companies unwilling to sponsor interntationals.
OPTION 2: O1-B Visa, Artist visa. Very dfficult to obtain!
Problems:
- You have to demonstrate extraordinary abilities by national and international acclaim. You must almost be a genious or demonstrate you are the next Frank Gehry!
- You have to demonstrate you have been nominated or recipient of awards for excellence.
- You have to demonstrate to be the Author of articles in relevant media and professional publications.
- You have to demonstrate you recieve a high salary or other substantial remuneration.
RECOMMENDED OPTION: J-1 Visa. Architect-US Career Training Program will facilitate you all the visa arrangements within 4 weeks!
Advantages:
- Flexible start and flexible program length: between 3 and 18 months.
- Very easy and short processing time: 4-6 weeks (standard) 2 weeks (expedited).
- The Host company does not sponsor the international but a Department of State official designated sponsor.
- The Host company is not required to pay any visa fees.
- It’s regulated by the Exchange J1 Visitor Program within the legal framework of the US State Department.
4_ WHAT ARCHITECT-US CAREER TRAINING PROGRAM DOES?
If you are interested in working in the US as an Architect or would love to pursue an architectural internship, then Architect-US Professional Career Training Program is your solution to make your American Dream come true! We will not only sponsor you J1 Visa, we will also help you to find your dream job! Hera are the two categories you can participate at:
- Internships: for Students and recent graduates (interns)
- Training: for professionals with more than a year of experience (trainees)
We will provide you with comprehensive management of your:
- J-1 visa
- health insurance
- paperwork
