My Thai girlfriend would like to work in USA

[marekrski]

Originally Posted by marekrski

I am not Thai resident, now i apply for J1 visa for the fifth time in my life and each year i got it without any problems. I just want to help my girlfriend get her job in usa.
so first of all employer has to get aproval by sending petition I-129, am i right??
but maybe is there a chance just to get a visa using only job offer, what do you think?
thank you

I always participate in student exchange program which is called "work&travel". I am student but she is not so this W&T program is not taken into account. I want to know details what visa is best for her and how to do it step by step.
Thanks for your considaration

[synthia]

If your girlfriend is a university student, she could look into getting a J-1 visa, for an internship. There is an organization called BUNAC which arranges a lot of these. I think there are other organizations, but the process is often referred to as 'getting a BUNAC visa'. Thailand is one of the countries that is eligible. While the US State Department considers them to be cultural exchanges, most recipients work during their time in the US. The US Park Service is a big employer, hiring lots of staff for their lodges and restaurants in the national parks.

[marekrski]

Originally Posted by synthia

If your girlfriend is a university student, she could look into getting a J-1 visa, for an internship. There is an organization called BUNAC which arranges a lot of these. I think there are other organizations, but the process is often referred to as 'getting a BUNAC visa'. Thailand is one of the countries that is eligible. While the US State Department considers them to be cultural exchanges, most recipients work during their time in the US. The US Park Service is a big employer, hiring lots of staff for their lodges and restaurants in the national parks.

I wrote already she is not a student plus i have a company willing to hire her for this comming summer season. I let her know to call embassy in Bangkok.
thanx

[Bevdeforges]

If the company is willing to hire her, they should be willing to "petition" for her. If they haven't ever done this before they may not be aware of how the process works (which is always a problem). But they will have to get involved in the process of sponsoring her for her to get a working visa that allows her to take the job on offer.
Cheers,
Bev

[marekrski]

what about if she apply for J1 visa?? is it even possible for her?
I am from Poland and can apply without any problems if I am a student. There is special program which takes care of everything, it is called "work&travel"
any opinions about his J1 option??

oo I have just remind, what if she during her stay in usa under turist visa decide to switch it to working visa, is it possible.
I try to help her as much as I can. I am now working on "petition" but also try to get easier way to bring her to usa.
thanx so much for your advises

[Bevdeforges]

To apply for a J-1 visa, your girlfriend will either have to find an employer who is a "designated exchange visitor program sponsor" and can provide her with the form she needs to send in with her visa application - or she needs to sign up with an approved exchange work program.

It is usually not possible to change from a tourist visa to a work visa while remaining in the US. At a minimum they normally require you to go back home to file the application (which takes at least a few months). Requesting a change is more or less an admission that you entered the country under false pretenses (i.e. to look for work rather than as a "real" tourist).
Cheers,
Bev

[marekrski]

Thank you so much for all your informations.
Today i have talked to my friend who applied for H2B visa before. She advised me that there is H2B visa lottery in March and October and now it is too late to apply. Is she right?? are there maybe any exeptions?
thanx

[marekrski]

is it now too late to apply for H2B visa for comming summer season??

[johnydep]

You might want to check the H2B visa as an option. She does not need to be a student and it is more convenient than J1.

For an H2B job you might try h2bjobs dot net - they have a database of more than 11000 US employers

[Rachel_Heath]

Originally Posted by marekrski

is it now too late to apply for H2B visa for comming summer season??

As an fyi to anyone else (given this is 2 months later) - The 2nd half of 33,000 available H2B Visa's for 2008 was met on January 2nd this year...