How to Move to and Work in New York?

If you’re thinking about moving to the United States, and especially to New York, the first step is simple: don’t listen to anyone who says it’s impossible. Anything is possible, especially in America—that’s what the American Dream is all about, and the Statue of Liberty is its symbol! That said, the path to New York isn’t straightforward. You’ll need to prepare carefully and follow US immigration rules to the letter.

1/ Plan Your Move

• Moving to New York isn’t like taking a week-long vacation. You need to think through your plans and ask yourself some basic questions: what will you do there? More importantly, how will you support yourself? What kind of work will you do? How will you pay for rent and living expenses?
• Beyond the visa question, you should know that living in New York is expensive. Rent is comparable to Paris, and health insurance costs far more than in Europe. In short, you need to move with a clear picture of how you’ll earn money in New York.

2/ Get a Work Visa

• Important: you cannot work in the United States without a visa that permits it. Don’t plan to move and work on an ESTA travel authorization alone—that’s an electronic permission for tourists and business visitors only. Working without proper authorization is illegal and could result in a 10-year ban from the US.
• To work in the US, you need a proper work visa. Several types exist: H1B, L1, L2, E1, E2, and others. But honestly, you don’t need to study each one closely. If you want to work in the US, you typically won’t handle the visa process yourself. The best path is to find a company willing to hire you and sponsor your visa. The employer manages the visa paperwork.
• You can send your resume to companies in New York or to French companies with offices there. It won’t be easy, but it’s possible—especially if you have skills in demand: finance, insurance, science, hospitality, fine dining, and similar fields. New York hotels regularly hire French speakers.
• If a company sponsors you, you’ll receive a “non-immigrant” visa valid for one to seven years.

3/ Try the Green Card Lottery

• No company sponsor? Don’t give up. There’s another option: win a Green Card.
• You’ve probably heard of it: the Green Card lottery is an official drawing run by US authorities that awards 55,000 immigration permits each year to foreign citizens wanting to settle in the United States.
• Officially called the “Diversity Visa Program,” it’s been running since 1990 to diversify US immigration. In 2015, the most recent data available, over 14 million people entered for 55,000 visas. Think you have no chance? Read on.
• Important: the program sets specific quotas by nationality. In 2015, over 43,000 French citizens entered for 816 visas reserved for France; 7,200 Belgians competed for 107 visas; 11,500 Swiss for 194 visas; nearly 130,000 Algerians for 3,076 visas; nearly 120,000 Moroccans for 2,844 visas; and 8,300 Tunisians for 221 visas.
• Registration is free and happens entirely online through the official lottery website. Be careful to use the official site—scams abound. Some fake sites look nearly identical to the real one and charge huge fees to “register” you. The lottery is FREE.
• Before you enter, think about what you’d do in the US and prepare your plan. If your name is drawn, you’ll have an interview at the US embassy to explain your plans and how you’ll support yourself. Only then will you receive your Green Card—or not.

4/ Marry a New Yorker

• Here’s another path to a Green Card and legal work authorization: marry a US citizen. It’s not the most common route, but it’s worth mentioning because it leads directly to a Green Card.
• If you find love in New York, why not take it all the way? Just know that US authorities scrutinize marriages carefully to prevent fraud.

5/ Start Your Own Business

• Another less common but equally effective option: the immigrant investor visa (visas C5, T5, R5, and I5). This visa goes to foreigners who want to start a business in the US and invest at least $1 million, or $500,000 in a high-unemployment or rural area. You’ll also need to commit to creating 10 jobs within two years.
• It’s a significant challenge, but if you dream of opening a restaurant or another business in New York, it’s far from impossible. Many foreigners do it every year.

6/ A Special Visa for Athletes

• Finally, sports can be your ticket to the US. But you need to be an elite athlete who interests an American club. Very few make it, but it’s a real possibility.
• If an American club recruits you, you’ll receive a P-1 visa valid for one year.