Chef Jobs in the USA
Information for chefs and cooks on how to find work in the USA, including immigration & visas, health insurance, wage rates and conditions.
Where to find work
Newspapers in each town or city in the USA list employment positions. Check here for newspapers and their websites for each city. They each have an associated website with online employment advertisements. Online employment sites in the USA include Monster.com and SimplyHired.com where you can search by location and job type.
Health care and health insurance
The US Government site Getting Settled in the United States has information about finding housing and a job, getting a Social Security number and a driver's license, taking care of your money, and organising health care for you and your family.
Wages, conditions and taxation
Minimum wages are set by the US Department of Labor. There are pay rates and useful Fact Sheets on the Department's website. CNN has an article quoting chef's pay rates of $32-50,000 pa for long hours, so it sounds as if it's the same as everywhere - too many hours and average money!
Income tax is paid to federal, most state, and some local governments. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the federal agency that collects income tax. Taxpayers file a federal income tax return Form 1040 with the IRS each year.
Immigration, visas and Green Cards for working in the USA
The US Office of Citizenship & Immigration Services handles visas and immigration - the website is a great resource and easy to use.
How to obtain a Green Card through employment.
Check if you are eligible for the Student & Exchange Student System.
Employers who wish to hire foreign workers to temporarily perform services or labor or to receive training may file an I-129 petition. There does not appear to be a specific category of chefs (but there is for fashion models!). Find your local US Consulate and talk to them.
Private recruitment agencies
There are many recruitment agencies online when you do a Google search. Refine your search by putting the position in double quotes eg "chef work in Miami" - this way, Google will only show listings relevant to that city. You may also want to search for 'Cruise Lines Employment' for work on board a cruise ship. Try searching for a position now:
How to Prepare your Resume & Handle Interviews
Check the Free Online Videos for the best way to prepare for and present yourself in a job interview. Plus how to prepare your resume and cover letter.
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