Work in the USA for South Africans

Hamzah Shaikh

27.03.24

10 minute read

Given its status as an economic powerhouse that boasts not just the world’s largest economy but a dynamic and diverse job market, it’s unsurprising that the number of South Africans moving to the USA for work has increased substantially in recent decades.⁵

For many South Africans, America has become a home-from-home; several American states have significant South African populations, while South African-born CEOs lead the way in several innovative industries. Put simply, the American dream is still very much rife for South African professionals looking to further their careers in the US.

If you’re considering chasing this dream and seeing just what America can offer you on a professional level, this article will explain everything worth knowing about working in the US as a South African.

We’ll also give you a quick introduction to Wise, an international money transfer services provider that can help you save money if you’re thinking about sending some of your wages back to South Africa.⁴

Learn more about Wise

Do South Africans need a work visa/permit for a job in the USA?

South Africans need to apply for an immigration visa to legally work in the USA. There are approximately 140,000 immigrant visas available each fiscal year for foreign professionals (and their partners and children) who want to come to the United States and work.⁶

After you obtain an immigration visa, you will be eligible for a green card - and subsequent status as a permanent resident in the US.

Are there different types of permits/visas (e.g. A/B/C types)?

There are a number of different immigration visas available for South African professionals who want to move to America for work. Below are three of the most common.

EB-1 Visa

If you are an international worker of ‘extraordinary ability’ or a particular multinational executive or manager, you might be eligible for an EB-1 Visa. This employment-based visa is usually the most expedited path to gaining permanent residence in the United States, however, it’s also the most tricky visa to qualify for.

EB-2 Visa

If you have an advanced degree or exceptional abilities in the arts, sciences or business, you might be eligible for an EB-2 Visa. This employment-based visa is usually easier to qualify for than the EB-1 Visa.

Before submitting an application for an EB-2 Visa, your employer will need to apply for a permanent employment certification (PERM). It’s possible to go around this requirement by petitioning for a National Interest Waiver.

EB-3 Visa

The EB-3 Visa is the most popular employment-based visa for foreign workers. Those eligible for an EB-3 Visa are professionals with a baccalaureate degree in the USA (or equivalent abroad) and skilled workers with a minimum of 2 years of experience.

Similar to an EB-2 Visa, your new employer in America must apply for a PERM on your behalf.

Work opportunities in the USA?

Job opportunities in the US are vast - and many South Africans take leading roles in several industries across American states. There are also several South African networking organisations in America. These groups are on hand to help newly immigrated professionals quickly climb their way up the professional ladder.

You can find a wide variety of job vacancies on the following online portals:

LinkedIn⁷
Indeed⁸
Glassdoor⁹
USJobs¹⁰
Snagajob¹¹
Monster¹²
Google for Jobs¹³
CareerBuilder¹⁴

The diverse job market in the United States means that earning potential in the country can be great. Below is a table of the average yearly income for seven different occupations in America.

Occupation	Average Annual Salary (USD)¹⁵	Average Annual Salary (ZAR)
Accountant	$65,000	1,232,347 ZAR
Investment Banker	$165,000	3,128,801 ZAR
Civil Engineer	$87,513	1,659,459 ZAR
Dentist	$146,354	2,775,227 ZAR
Data Analyst	$78,646	1,491,319 ZAR
Lawyer	$102,964	1,952,592 ZAR
Digital Marketing Manager	$80,000	1,517,107 ZAR

Send money to South Africa from the USA using the mid-market rate

If you’re a South African expat living in the USA, Wise can help you save money¹ when making international money transfers back to South Africa.

Although the majority of US banks will allow expats to make international transactions, they normally add a markup onto the mid-market exchange rate, meaning you end up paying more for your transfer.

The mid-market exchange rate is the rate that banks use to transfer money between them and is considered the fairest rate in the market. Find out what you would pay for an international money transfer with Wise:

Wise customers don’t have to pay an additional markup fee but only a small transparent fee to make an international transaction¹. That’s because Wise uses the mid-market rate for overseas payments!

With Wise, South African expats can save money¹ when making international payments from the USA to South Africa.

Join Wise!

What is the process when applying for a work visa in the USA for South Africans?

The application process for an employment-based visa and a green card for permanent residency will differ depending on your situation. However, most applicants will go through a process similar to this:¹⁶

An employer will submit an immigrant petition on your behalf (often known as sponsoring you). In some cases, you can submit this petition yourself.
After this petition is approved by USCIS, you’ll be able to see if there is a visa available in your category. If there is, you can file an application for a Green Card or a visa with the U.S. Department of State.
You then need to attend a biometrics appointment to provide your fingerprints, photos and a signature.
You will be invited to an interview which, if goes well, will be followed by a decision on your application.

What is the processing time?

It takes anywhere between 7 to 33 months to process a green card application.¹⁷ The processing time varies considerably depending on USCIS processing times and the type of application you’re submitting.

Do I need a residence permit/ visa for the USA before applying for a work visa/permit?

Given the popularity of America for South Africans looking to work overseas, it’s unsurprising that many often ask “Can I work in the US without specifically obtaining a work visa?” However, if you live outside the United States and wish to be employed in the country, you must apply for a visa that enables you to legally work. If you work without a permit, you’ll likely face consequences from the US authorities.

What is the total cost of applying for a work visa for the USA for South Africans?

The cost of applying for the three most common US work visas, EB-1 visa, EB-2 visa and EB-3 visa, is generally the same. However, all three applications are split into various compulsory forms - each with its own fee.¹⁸

Form type	Cost (USD) per person	Cost (ZAR) per person
Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker)	$700	13,256 ZAR
Form DS-260	$345	6,533 ZAR
Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support)	$120	2,272 ZAR
Biometrics fee	$85	1,609 ZAR

What are the application requirements for South Africans?

If you’re applying for an EB-2 and EB-3 Visa, your employer must also apply for a permanent employment certification (PERM) with the US Department of Labor. Submitting a PERM application needs to be done before filing an immigrant petition with USCIS and can take around a year to complete.¹⁹

Professionals looking to come to the US on an EB-2 Visa can bypass this requirement by petitioning for a National Interest Waiver instead. This can significantly speed up the immigration process.

Do employers provide sponsorship for working in the USA?

In the majority of cases, applying for a visa to work in the US requires an American employer to sponsor a foreign professional for a visa or green card. It’s the responsibility of the employer to demonstrate there aren’t any qualified American workers available to fill the role and support the professional’s application to receive immigration benefits.

What are the required documents?

Getting the required documents and paperwork together to apply for a US work visa can often be a lengthy process. While the majority of the documents you need for an EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 visa application are the same, there are a few additional bits of paperwork you may require depending on the visa you’re applying for.

Required documents for EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 visas:²⁰

Valid passport
Employment offer from an American employer
Approved labour certification
Approved petition
DS-260 confirmation page
Signed medical documents
Signed vaccine documents
Two photographs that meet US visa photo requirements
Court and criminal records
Letters from your previous employers (for EB-1 and EB-2 visas)
Academic achievements demonstrated through diplomas and certificates (for EB-2 and EB-3 visas)
CV or resume (for EB-2 and EB-3 visas)
Proof of why your work is in the national interest of America if applying for National Interest Waiver (for EB-2 visas)
Proof that you meet the criteria for the category you’re applying for (for EB-1 visas)

Working as a student in the USA

America is a major host for students looking to study abroad; the number of South African students moving to the US is rising year on year.²¹ However, when it comes to getting part-time employment on a student visa, there are several restrictions to be aware of.

Can students work part-time in the USA?

The majority of international students will come to the US on an F1 visa. While this visa allows you to take any job on campus for no more than 20 hours a week during term time, it has certain limitations for off-campus employment.²²

After you have completed your first academic year, international students can engage in three variations of off-campus employment: curricular practical training (CPT), optional practical training (OPT) and STEM optional practical training extension (STEM OPT).

Some students on an F1 visa might be able to work off-campus in other positions following severe economic hardship or a form of special student relief.²³

Are students allowed full-time work in the USA?

International students can work full-time during academic holidays or their annual break, however, you must be registered for the following semester before you take up full-time hours.²⁴

Can you work in the USA after completing your higher education there (already have a study visa)?

With more than 4 in 10 students wanting to stay in the US and work after graduation,²⁵ continuing your life in the United States after your studies have finished is a popular choice for many overseas students. However, if you do want to stay in America and work, you need to apply for the relevant visa.

Is there a need for a new visa/work visa for students?

Several visas allow international students to stay in America and find employment:

The post-completion OPT enables recent graduates to work in America for up to 12 months on a part-time or full-time basis.²⁶ Your job role must be directly related to your major area of study.
A STEM OPT extension lets students studying science, technology, engineering, or mathematics stay in the USA and work for up to 24 months after they graduate.²⁷
Transferring your F1 student visa to an H-1B visa allows you to work and live in the United States for up to 6 years. This is dependent on a US employer sponsoring you and the USCIS deeming you eligible for the programme.²⁸

Visa for partner/family members in the USA

Bringing your partner and family members over to the US with you is an important part of relocating to the country for work. Fortunately, many American visas allow you to include dependents in your application.

Can I invite my partner if I already have a residence permit + work visa in the USA?

If you’re applying for an EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 visa to reside and work in the USA, you can also include your spouse and unmarried children (under the age of 21) in your visa application. This will make them eligible for derivative visas - which we’ve explained below.

What visa does my partner need to apply for to join me in the USA? Is the process different?

If your I-140 immigration petition is approved for the above visas, you can invite your partner and unmarried children to apply for admission to the US on several different immigration statuses:

For EB-1 applicants, your dependants can come to America on an E-14 or E-15 immigrant status.
If you’re applying for an EB-2 Visa, your partner and children can join you in America on an E-21 and E-22 immigrant status.
For professionals hoping to come to the USA on an EB-3 Visa, your spouse and unmarried children may be eligible to apply for admission on an E34 (spouse of a “skilled worker” or “professional”), an EW4 (spouse of an “other worker”), an E35 (child of a “skilled worker” or “professional”) or an EW5 (child of an “other worker”).

Working self-employed (as a freelancer)

There currently isn’t a self-employed visa for self-employed professionals looking to relocate to the US.³² This is because the majority of American work visas require an employer to sponsor an applicant from overseas.

One possible route for freelancers to move to America is the O-1 Visa, or the visa for Individuals of Extraordinary Ability or Achievement. The O-1 Visa enables foreign professionals who have shown ‘extraordinary ability’ in various fields or have a record of notable achievement in TV or motion pictures to stay in the USA for up to three years.

Starting your own business in the USA

While America’s E2 Visa allows entrepreneurs from 80 specified treaty countries to set up a business in the US, South Africa unfortunately isn’t currently part of this treaty.³³

Instead, those interested in investing in a new US business - even if not their own - might be eligible for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa. This visa enables South African professionals to invest in companies in the USA - and become permanent residents in the country.

Important processes to complete once you arrive in the USA

Shortly after you arrive in the US, you’ll need to do the following:

Buy an American SIM card and get online.
Apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) if you haven’t done so already.
Open a US bank account - or look into banking alternatives that specialise in international transactions, like Wise.
Research healthcare insurance to prevent inflated fees from public healthcare services.

Is it worth moving to the USA from South Africa for work?

Pros	Cons
The US is home to the world’s largest economy and boasts a multitude of job prospects across several diverse industries.	American work culture can be intense. US workers tend to work longer and take fewer holidays. They also get less maternity and family leave time than in other countries.
There are lots of South African business links in the country, including networking organisations to help new professionals quickly grow in their careers.	The US immigration process can be complex and long-winded, especially if you are waiting on a permanent employment certification.

Relocating to the US from South Africa is a great opportunity for professionals looking for not just somewhere they can expand their professional potential, but a home-from-home with a significant South African population.

If you’re considering moving to America for work, it’s important to research which employment visa you’d be eligible for, and think about whether you’d also be compatible with the turbulent (and sometimes stressful) work culture in the US.

In terms of money management, Wise is a great international money transfer services provider for overseas payments if you’re debating sending some of your salary back to South Africa.⁴

Join Wise!

Sources

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Number of South Africans and Sub-Saharan Africans moving to the USA
Number of immigrant visas available
LinkedIn
Indeed
Glassdoor
USAJobs
Snagajob
Monster
Google for Jobs
CareerBuilder
Average annual salary in US
Green card application process
Processing time for a green card
Cost of EB-2 Visa
PERM explained
Documents for US employment visa
South African students in America
Working on-campus on a student visa
Off-campus employment
Full-time student hours
Students staying in the US to work
Post-completion OPT
STEM OPT extension
H-1B Visa
Bringing dependants to the US on an EB-1 Visa
Bringing dependants to the US on an EB-2 Visa
Bringing dependants to the US on an EB-3 Visa
O-1 Visa for freelancers
US treaty countries

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