Working legally in the United States is possible even if you don’t have a college degree. Having a visa opens up possibilities for you, especially if you get the H-2A visa for agricultural work and the H-2B visa for non-agricultural work, among others.

If you are studying and have the F-1 student visa (academic student) or the M-1 student visa (vocationally oriented student), there are opportunities to enter the labor market.

In Portafolio they report that there are different types of visas, each with its own conditions. The most common, for example in Colombia, are:

How to Work Legally in the United States Without University Studies?

What USCIS says about employment

Below is information on the subject provided by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website:

H-2A Visa

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The H-2A program allows U.S. employers or agents who meet specific legal requirements to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs.

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H-2B visa

The H-2B program allows U.S. employers or agents who meet specific legal requirements to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs.

In the case of F-1 and M-1 visas

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F-1 students cannot work off campus during the first academic year, but may accept this employment on campus subject to certain conditions and restrictions.

After the first year of study, F-1 students can participate three types of employment off campus:

This way, you can obtain permanent residence step by step through a job offer in the United States

F-1 students They may also be eligible to work off campus on a case-by-case basis due to special situations, such as serious financial difficulties or special student aid. M-1 students can only participate in the practical training after they have completed their studies.

For both F-1 and M-1 studentsany off-campus training must be related to your area of ​​study and must be authorized before beginning any work by the designated school official (the person authorized to maintain student and exchange visitor information) (SEVIS) and USCIS.

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J-1 Visa Exchange visitors

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Some J-1 nonimmigrants enter the United States specifically to work, while others do not.

Employment is only permitted for J-1 nonimmigrants under the terms of the exchange program.

USCIS recommends that you contact your sponsoring agency for more information about any restrictions that may apply to your work in the United States.

Consult the USCIS website for more information

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