The lack of skilled workers in Texas and throughout the nation has sparked an opportunity for skilled workers from other countries. Perhaps, you possess skills that you know U.S. employers are seeking and have taken steps to apply for a visa. Understanding that life in America will be quite different from life in your country of origin, you may have begun studying and researching as much as you can to make adapting to your new lifestyle less stressful.
No matter how well-prepared, you will likely still encounter numerous challenges along the way as you leave everything familiar to you behind and work toward accomplishing your goals in a totally new and foreign environment. The stronger a support system you build around yourself, the better able to overcome problem situations you might be.
Common stumbling blocks
You may be able to apply your talents in various industries, depending on your particular skill set. When meeting with prospective employers and learning to interact in a new community, one or more of the following issues may cause problems to arise:
- Same skills, different arena: Although you may have been using your skills for years, perhaps even decades, in your country of origin, the way things are done in the U.S. may be quite different from what you’re used to on the job.
- Communication challenges: In addition to struggling to speak, read and write fluently in English, protocol, etiquette and workplace customs may seem strange to you when you first start working in the United States.
- Lack of connections: Networking is an integral component of a skilled worker’s career. When you are the “new kid on the block,” you may not know many people who work in your industry, which can make it difficult to establish yourself.
- Work permit problems: The process of obtaining a visa can be quite grueling. At any point along the way, legal problems may arise and a key factor to overcoming such problems may lie in the type of support you have on hand.
Taking one step at a time and making sure you follow the rules increases your chances of achieving success regarding your goals to legally reside and work in the United States. Any type of legal status problem may not only place your job at risk but may also make you eligible for deportation. Reaching out for experienced guidance is often better than trying to resolve immigration problems on your own.
