Island of Tears in the Land of Immigrants
It is known that America is a country that almost 99% consists of immigrant population, it is a nation of immigrants. The process of settling and developing the New World was long and painful.
"The day we arrived in New York was like Judgment Day - we had to prove our worth to enter 'paradise,'" wrote in his diary one of the emigrants of the late 19th century. From 1891 to 1915, 16,942,781 emigrants arrived in the States in search of a better lot. It was at this time that a mass flow of Europeans to the States began, mainly from Italy, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine.
The Poles went, as they themselves said, "za chlebem" ("for bread"), seeking to earn some money and return home to buy a plot of land there. The same was said by Ukrainians, mostly from Western Ukraine. Jews fled their homes to escape pogroms. And there were simply adventurers who were attracted by stories of the gold rush.
People kept arriving more and more each year. In 1890, the U.S. Congress was forced to allocate three acres of land to build an immigrant receiving station near New York. It was located on Ellis Island, which later became known as the Island of Tears.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, the island received about half a million refugees from around the world each year. By 1910, 6 million new Americans had passed through the station. In 1921, the U.S. government for the first time passed a law limiting the number of newcomers. And the Immigration Act of 1924 established quotas based on a person's national origin. Citizens of young countries that appeared on the map of Europe after the World War received the minimal quotas. It was even more difficult for Asians to get into America.
At that time, Ellis indeed resembled purgatory - here the "sinful" were separated from the "righteous." Under the new laws, only completely healthy people were allowed to pass. Everyone underwent tests. Many were marked on their clothing with chalk. H meant that the person had a heart condition, E - eyes, X - mental retardation, and S - that the person was simply very old and decrepit. A child who had reached the age of ten also had to undergo a test for physical development. If the test was not passed - he had to leave America. With the child, either one of the older relatives or the entire family returned. It was terrible - no complaints or tearful pleas helped.
Such tragedies occurred every day on the Island of Tears, and their number was enormous. President Theodore Roosevelt wrote then about the immigrant: "We must remember that sending him back is to impose on him a punishment that in itself is not much less than death." And indeed, some chose death. Several hundred people committed suicide right here on the island.
And after the medical examination, a new "torture" began - this time with questions. Who are you? Where from? Do you have money? How much? Where are you going? For what purpose? What are your beliefs? Are you an anarchist? Are you engaged in prostitution? There were many questions, and no one knew exactly which answers were correct. But no one, none of them ever said that they came to America in search of work. Everyone said: I am going to my brother, sister, daughter, friend. "Why should I now fear hellfire?" said one of the women in a burst of emotion. "I have passed through it at Ellis Island!" In 1914 alone, the number of deportees from the United States was 16,588 people.
The Island of Tears as an immigrant station existed until 1954. Too many unpleasant memories were associated with it. The island was put up for sale, but not a single person expressed a desire to buy it. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed a document according to which Ellis Island became part of the Statue of Liberty memorial. It became an open-air museum that would remind all generations of Americans of the hardships and deprivations that their ancestors had to endure.
Everyone - a Potential Immigrant
Today, to get to America, one also needs to make considerable efforts. The very first interview at the consulate will remind you of the Island of Tears. But do not despair - only the persistent will get victory in the competition. And a trip to the USA very often resembles a long-distance race.
To combat illegals and uncontrolled immigration, the U.S. government constantly tightens the procedure for entering the country. You have certainly already heard about all the complications that occur at consulates. In every visitor, officials see a potential immigrant. Indeed, many, once in the States and having lived there for some time, seek to exchange a temporary visa for a permanent one. And many succeed. Therefore, at American consulates, they almost always require proof that the person will return home after a trip to America.
Work or family may "call" one home. So they check whether you earn enough, and having a certain number of children only increases the chances of getting a visa. It is most difficult to get a visa for students: they are not bound by family ties, they do not have high-paying jobs or real estate.
How can one get permission to work in the USA without having an immigrant visa? In this case, an American entrepreneur who wants to take you on must apply to the Department of Labor (first to the state employment service) and convince officials that no one from the local population claims this position. Among the privileged foreigners who do not need a labor certificate are people with extraordinary abilities in art, science, education, business, or sports, as well as distinguished professors and researchers, international administrators and managers. So if you are not Albert Einstein or Pablo Picasso, then you need to take care of a labor certificate.
But since obtaining it is not an easy task, they will have to work, most likely, illegally. However, there is federal legislation against employers who knowingly hire people who are not allowed to work in the United States. Many comply with the law and require a “green card” or other work permit before hiring.
My neighbor went to America on a tourist visa and has been living there for six years. Mikhail is 38 years old and settled in Detroit. Before that, he worked as a television director and knew a little English. In the States, he does odd jobs - sometimes on a construction site, sometimes as a supermarket loader. Upon arrival, he also had to try his hand as a garbage collector, earning $5 an hour. Now his income is a little higher. He does not particularly complain about life, although he is tired of being an illegal immigrant. Mikhail writes letters to his brother, sometimes sends parcels and a little money. He lives with another illegal immigrant - a Pole; the two rent a small house in the suburbs. Housing and food cost about $900 a month. He saves a little - $200-300, but is glad of that too. The neighbors know perfectly well about their situation but do not report them to the police - after all, if needed, they are happy to help with housework.
In his letters, Mikhail wrote that after the September 11 attacks he thought about returning home - television promised to “identify all illegal aliens”. He got lucky: it turned out that doing so was unrealistic - too many people in the US are in an illegal status. Mikhail has never contacted the Ukrainian consulate - he is afraid of being deported. But he does not allow his brother to sell the apartment that remains in Ukraine - in case he has to return. And the money he has managed to save while working in America will be enough to open his own, albeit small, business.
How Not to Get Hooked
Some companies make good money off our compatriots' desire to earn some extra money abroad. Klara and Oksana from Uzhgorod saw an ad in a regional newspaper in which a Kyiv firm promised work for 6-12 months in the United States with “guaranteed high earnings”. Plus visa support, paperwork for legal employment in America, and so on. The Kyivites asked only $250 for their services. The girls wrote a letter, and the answer came immediately. They were promised work in warehouses and no less than $1,600 a month. The girls borrowed money from acquaintances and went to Kyiv.
But on the spot it turned out that the services for obtaining a work visa would cost $420. The friends shrugged - well, what can you do, we'll work it off in a month. They paid. Only, for some reason, they were not given a receipt, saying that a note in the contract was sufficient. Several months passed. And finally the long-awaited envelope. And in it... a visitor invitation to the US from completely unfamiliar people and an invitation to an interview at the consulate. At the firm, they explained that everything was fine, there was no need to worry, it was necessary “for form”. Nevertheless, a psychologist spent a whole hour preparing the friends from Uzhgorod for the upcoming interview at the consulate. He taught them how to behave at the interview, what to say about people they had never seen in person, where they met, how many children they had...
But at the American consulate it turned out that no one had opened a work visa for them, and the people named in the documents did not reside in the United States at all. Moreover, the frightened women were told that they were potential illegal immigrants, and were refused a visa for a year. At the firm, apparently, they were already prepared for this turn of events and immediately spun a story that they would certainly return all the money. But later. Three months later, the director announced that there could be no claims against them because the terms of the contract had not been violated. It's your own fault - next time look at what you sign. The girls threatened to sue, but on the other end of the line they just sneered...
To avoid getting hooked, you first need to verify the legality of the firm's activities, which must have a license to provide this kind of service. The firm must have a foreign economic contract concluded with a company engaged in employment - in this case, in the United States. This contract must be registered with the consular department and confirm that the firm actually exists and has the right to provide jobs. In addition, the firm must have a license from the Ministry of Labor. And before signing a contract, carefully read the text: it must specify all the details - the travel route, how, who and where will meet you, working conditions and pay. If obligations are not fulfilled, you will be able to prove your case in court. And if they refuse to show you the necessary documents, there is reason to think: is it worth dealing with this company?
First American Job
Programmer Boris lives and works in Seattle. He managed to find a decent job two months after arriving in the US, without having a perfect command of English. His advice will help those who hope to find legal work in their field in the States.
You should think about work even before leaving. Start by preparing references from former employers. Notarization is not required, but you should list the names of people, their addresses and phone numbers. Don't forget to translate the references into English. Of course, you shouldn't overestimate the importance of these testimonials, but it's better to have them - they will come in handy.
It is advisable to prepare a resume in English while still at home; without it, no company will talk to you. In the resume, you should list only those characteristics that may be of interest to an employer. Write not about what you can do and know, but about what specific work you performed, what tools, programs, and methods you used, and what results you achieved. Is it possible to bluff? It is, if you are fully confident in your abilities. But keep in mind that if you do not live up to your qualifications, they will part with you very quickly.
Upon arriving in the US, try not to waste time and immediately apply for a social security card number. Without it, you will not be able to find legal work or even begin your job search. Boris received these cards by mail a few weeks after applying.
Next, you will most likely need a car. At interviews they often ask whether you have a car. Here it is not a luxury — many places are simply impossible to reach by public transport.
Boris also strongly recommends immediately buying a computer and connecting to the Internet, because it is a powerful source of job offers. Resumes can also be sent to companies via email. Another source of job offers is newspapers. First of all, of course, you should look through the local press and free advertising leaflets. But most often offers come from recruitment agencies that hire labor for their clients; their services are completely free for you. Look for the phones of such agencies in the Employment section of the Yellow Pages, which are available near every payphone.
Another piece of advice from Boris: do not have a complex about your English. Contact all companies where your specialty fits, almost fits, or might fit. If you find an interesting offer, immediately send your resume there along with a short cover letter. You should contact at least two dozen places. Such is the principle of job searching here.
Be sure to note where and what you sent. Keep a file on each contact - otherwise you will simply get confused. When a company calls you, you must instantly find the relevant entry in your file and orient yourself correctly. It would be funny (not for you) if it turns out you forgot when you applied and what you are applying for. If you sent a resume to a company, be sure to call there after a few days and ask whether it was received. If you had an interview at a recruitment agency and they have not offered you anything within a few weeks, call them again. Do not hesitate to bother them — it is their job.
Keep in mind that you will be rejected more than once, and this does not mean that you are doing something wrong or lack sufficient qualifications. It is always difficult to find your first job in the US.
During the interview, you must show that the dream of your entire life is to get a job at this particular company. Try to have arguments to that effect. Obviously losing positions: “I’d take any job, I don’t care where I work...” Only one is a winning position: “Your company does such and such. This exactly matches my experience and interests. Your company is certainly among the leaders in this field. I would be happy to become a member of your team.”
For the interview, you should dress appropriately and have the look of a successful gentleman or lady. Men need a suit and tie; women need a business suit. And smile! After every interview, be sure to call the company, send a letter or e-mail, and thank them for talking with you — these are the rules.
If you are lucky and have found a job, send a message about it to all the recruitment agencies you contacted, even those that offered nothing. If you found temporary work, the agencies will surely remember you by the end of the contract. No one guarantees that you will not have to search for a job again in the near future.
The main thing is to work
My classmate Marina has been living in the US for several years and works at a bank. It turned out that life abroad is not as heavenly as we used to think. You need to work hard to achieve anything. They do not tolerate lazy, unskilled people there. And they look down on immigrants somewhat. But there really is a good salary, different living conditions, a different mentality, unusual for us. For example, in America it is customary to have children after the age of 30. Because for a child (and he is usually the only one in the family) you first need to create all the conditions, otherwise he will only be a burden. Make a career, buy a house. Unfortunately, there is not enough time for upbringing. Even maternity leave here is short — one week before and four after the birth of the baby.
Marina has only one girlfriend — a Black woman, they work together. They meet on weekends to chat over a cup of coffee, and occasionally go out of town. Marina says that she gets the main stress in life at work, and outside the office she rests. In our country it is often the opposite. After all, in America they do not turn off gas or water for “preventive maintenance”; the house has all household conveniences, including a dishwasher. The main thing in America is to work.