Russian Dumped in New York City and need a job…

There is nothing worse than an upset wife. No – not at me (thank goodness), but a situation in life…

Russia has a lot of con artists just like the rest of the world does and like the rest of the world these con-artists have no problem with exploiting their own people. Money is root factor.

On the bus ride to work Svet happened to be sitting next to a young lady that was on her way to America. This young lady was a student in Moscow University and was offered an opportunity to go to America and work for three months. The opportunity was presented through a foreign exchange program.

Sounds like a good deal! It would be if it was legit…

I know all about the work program for foreign students in America and I used extensively Bulgarian workers for my restaurants in America. Bulgarians were hard workers and it helped them get ahead in life.

I know all the work involved to help get a foreign student to come to America and they have to have a job in writing before they cross the border, if they are on this program. I have worked with all the government agencies that are involved and I have worked students from China, Bulgaria, Russia, Korea and a dozen other countries. One thing that makes these kids a great worker is that they have to have that job that you give them and they take their stay in America seriously. Or they have to leave.

This young lady was so excited and had a contact in America. A contact of this particular program that she was signed up in and had her visa already. She had her plane tickets with a return ticket in three months. She was going to New York City and was told to have $1300 in cash. She was told that she would pay $300 per month and first and last month paid up front, for a room in New York City…?  She had to pay for all expenses to get visa and bought her plane tickets. At  this point she had a lot of money involved in this whole scheme. She was excited and going to America and work for three months… (Except)

Except a small detail that has been overshadowed by the excitement of the excursion.

This young lady does not have a job waiting for her in New York City. They have told her that jobs are plentiful and she will get her own job once she gets there. It is her responsibility to find a job as quickly as she can in New York City! The fact that a job was not available should be a red flag… (Good luck)

I know about these programs and refused to use them. I made my own contacts and did my own paper work for helping the Bulgarians come to America. I know one thing that is a fact. I had to have company letterhead statements that expressed my desire to work said employees and that I would guarantee their behavior in America. Without my word in writing I could not bring my best workers to America and get me through the busy summer months.

I am not sure what kind of program takes students to work in America and tells them to find their own job once they get there. But this is a coordinated effort from both sides of the ocean. For they have to have a work visa which means someone in America is promising them work and pulling strings.

H1B Visa – Applies to foreigners entering America to perform services in a specialty occupation.

H2B Visa – This category facilitates the entry of foreign workers who wish to enter America to engage in non-agricultural employment which is seasonal, intermittent, a peak load need, or a one-time occurrence.

L1 Visa or L1B Visa – The L1 category applies to foreigners who work for a company with a parent, subsidy, branch, or affiliate in America. Applicants must be employed in America in a managerial or executive capacity (L1A Visa) or as a person with specialized knowledge (L1B Visa).

There are also other work visas available. But…

This young lady was approved for a J1 visa and that means:

A J-1 Visa is issued for an Exchange Visitor who is participating in an established J Exchange program pre-approved by the State Department (formerly pre-approved by USIA). Exchange Visitors under J-1 visas include secondary school and college students, business trainees, trainees in flight aviation programs, primary and secondary school teachers, college professors, research scholars, medical residents or interns receiving medical training in the U.S., certain specialists, international visitors, and Government visitors.

You may if pre-approved ahead of time, work with a J1 visa but you can only work in approved studies area. Other words if she was a Biologist she must work with Biology…

This is a sham that takes both sides of the ocean coordinated to make it work.  The only thing that Svet and I can say is that maybe she will have a nice vacation…

Windows to Russia!

PS: Dumped in New York City and need a job!

Svet said, J1 visa does that stand for Jobs Visa? (J1) – Hummm…

Yup 🙂

About the Author