Texas Workforce Commission reported that 2,700 jobs were added in December of 2009 by Houston area employers, however, the unemployment rate of Houston edged up to 8.3% in December compared from 8.2% in November.
General Outlook
Finding jobs is not easy, especially when the whole world is in economic crunch; however, Houston remains a haven for job seekers. Houston acts as a major hub for those looking for careers in the medical fields, gas and oil, and international trade. The tourism industry also offers jobs in Houston's numerous restaurants, shops and hotels, and tourist attractions.
Downtown Houston is the premier business district and most often referred to as the central business district. The city houses prominent energy companies such as Shell Oil, Exxon Mobil, Dynegy, CenterPoint, Chevron, Devon, El Paso Corporation, Kinder Morgan, Calpine, Total S.A., and Halliburton. Also, Downtown Houston is home to JPMorgan Chase, St. Joseph Hospital, University of Houston Downtown, Continental Airlines, Qatar Airways, KPMG and Deloitte.
In the US, one must obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) once employed. SSN are free, and applications are through Social Security Administration office. For more information, visit the Social Security Website. http://www.socialsecurity.gov/.
Work Visa and Other Requirements
A foreign national can enter US either temporarily or permanently. But, to live and work permanently, an Alien Registration Receipt Card or more popularly known as "green card" is required. There is a 60 days processing time of application, however, it may take longer depending on the applicant's background. Obtaining the "green card" allows the individual to remain as a resident in the US.
Different types of non-immigrant visas are issued depending on one's purpose of visit to the US. A US based employer can petition a foreign worker with highly specialized knowledge or skills to qualify for an H-1B visa, which is good for six years. A labour of certification must be filed to the Department of Labour (DOL) to certify that the company can pay the set wage for foreign workers.
For immigration process and updates, visit United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website. [http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis].
Business Etiquette and Working Hours
Punctuality is a virtue in the US; therefore, the notorious Houston traffic is no excuse to be late to an appointment. Employees are expected to build rapport in the work environment.
A 40-hour minimum hours of work per week is required. Work done beyond 40 hours per week is considered overtime and should be paid 1.5 times the regular rate of pay.
Wages
In Texas, the federal minimum wage was set at USD$7.25 per hour in July of 2009.
According to DOL, H1B visa holders was hired by a Houston based company for software engineering jobs at a salary range of USD$72,000 to USD$92,000 and database administrator salary is at USD$80,000.
More Expat Resources
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
