Is this the winter that you finally leave home to live out your dream of cruising down miles of untracked powder at a popular American ski resort? Do you wonder if you'll be able to find work once you get there? Chances are the news is better than you think but there are some things you should be aware of before you leave home for the American slopes.
American companies (including ski resorts) actively recruit up to 66,000 foreign workers a year for a variety of seasonal jobs. Foreign workers at ski resorts are typically needed to fill positions in restaurants, hotels, running ski lifts and teaching for ski schools but they may be able to find work in almost any department of a busy ski resort. American resorts hire foreign workers to offset the shortage of qualified American workers and extend work to foreign workers who meet the following minimum qualifications:
- Minimum age of 18 years old
- Clean employment record
- No history or arrests of outstanding warrants
- Able to work full time in the desired capacity
American ski resorts extend employment offers to foreign workers through two types of visas: H-2B and J-1. By far the most frequently used, H-2B visas are temporary visas designed to allow visitors to work in the United States for up to 10 months at a time. Contrary to other types of work visas, the worker can begin at one job and switch to another or spend time traveling without having to apply for a new visa. Workers who enter the United States on H-2B visas are also free to bring their dependents; however, they are not allowed to work while in the United States.
For those wondering how they'll make ends meet, the good news is that sponsoring companies must guarantee a minimum number of work hours to visiting workers who are paid at the same rate as their American counterparts. The bad news is that even though they are citizens of another country, they must still pay American income tax. Visiting workers on H-2B visas are also eligible for health insurance and most other benefits extended to employees of the company.
Accepted less often at ski resorts are J-1 visas. J-1 visas are student visas, designed to allow foreign students to work during regular academic breaks and to gather unique work experience in other countries for up to four months at a time. J-1 visa visitors are employed less often than H-2B visas by busy resorts because in order to return to school on time for classes, students must leave the ski resort before the busiest times of the year - spring breaks and the Easter holidays.
So, how do you qualify for an H-2B visa? According to Human Resource experts, the best time to begin planning for a winter at an American ski resort is 6 to 9 months before the next season begins - usually in March or April. By contacting the resort directly, you'll save time, energy and most important, money - sponsoring resorts pay all registration and processing fees for the applicant that would normally run as much as $3,000 by the time all the paperwork is completed.
Once you arrive at the resort, you'll need a social security number, a place to live, transportation and other contacts. Sponsoring resorts will help you with all of these, leaving you more time to enjoy your new experience.
Allen R. Smith is a ski instructor at Vail Resort in Colorado and is also a freelance winter sports writer. Smith advises job seekers on how to land fun, rewarding ski jobs with ski areas worldwide. SkiJobs411 highlights the National Ski Patrol and how to get certified from the Professional Ski Instructors of America. Ski Jobs 411 is a free website that describes dozens of different ski industry jobs, contains first-person interviews with experienced workers, and passes along job hunting tips.
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