It’s no news that several Americans find themselves in need of a caregiver, whether for themselves, children, a parent, or disabled relatives. According to a report, there’s a shortage of caregivers given that a significant portion of the population is approaching old age. AARP affirms that the supply of family caregivers is unlikely to keep pace with the future demand, with the ratio of caregivers (45-64) to individuals in the high-risk years of 80 plus predicted to rise to 4 to 1 in 2030.
As a result, more people are expected to require institutional care rather than care by family members. However, there are Americans who are considering looking outside the US for possible caregiver options. If you are looking to immigrate to the United States for a caregiver job, here’s the best information you’ll come across on the internet regarding the way forward.
About Caregiver Employment
A caregiver is a professional who assists individuals with daily tasks and activities to enable their patients to live more independent lives. Caregivers are kind-hearted and have good organizational skills, as they help and keep track of care plans.
Responsibilities of Caregivers
Kindly find the below responsibilities due to caregivers:
- They help clients take prescribed medication
- Assist clients with ambulation and mobility around the house or outside
- Assist clients with personal care and hygiene
- Help clients with physical therapy exercises
- Plan and prepare meals with assistance from clients
- Do the client’s shopping or accompany them when they shop
- Perform light housekeeping duties that clients can’t complete on their own
- Be a pleasant and supportive companion
- Report any unusual incidents
- Act quickly and responsibly in cases of emergency
Requirements and Skills for Caregiver Job
To perform a caregiver job, or take up the responsibility, you need to understand what is required of you and the necessary skills to aid your career progression. These include, but are not limited to:
- Proven experience as a caregiver
- Excellent knowledge of emergency response and first aid (CPR)
- Knowledge of housekeeping activities and cooking with attention to dietary constraints
- Willingness to adhere to health and safety standards
- Be respectful and compassionate
- Possess good time management skills
- Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
- Strong ethics
- Physical endurance
- High school diploma or equivalent
Benefits of Caregiver Career
Career with a Purpose
One of the benefits of the caregiver role is knowing the care you provide helps make a difference. The services you provide can help increase your sense of purpose and well-being. When someone chooses to become a caregiver, they are choosing to put the needs of others before theirs, often resulting in unique clarity that can carry over into other aspects of their life.
Greater Appreciation
Life can be challenging; however, becoming a caregiver can give you insight into another’s experience. In many cases, caregivers for seniors and others in need gain a new perspective that enables them to better appreciate their circumstance. Caregiving can enhance one’s gratitude while making you more aware of other’s struggles.
Helps Build Confidence in Yourself
Patients rely on the caregiver to provide adequate care, which will require you to think creatively to overcome new challenges, gaining confidence in your ability. While working in a critical role, you’ll be learning new skills, some of those new skills include:
- Meal preparation
- Cleaning
- Checking blood pressure
- Administering medication
If your patients suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia, you will need to learn effective communication skills, too.
Flexible Work Schedule
With the various responsibilities expected of you, no two days will be the same. You may need to travel to contract with different patients in a single day or work exclusively with one or two. In view of this flexibility, you are likely to have more freedom with scheduling. Not needing to fix your life around the traditional 9-5 schedule provides you with time to face other life obligations with relative ease.
Opportunity to Meet New People
Building a relationship with patients is a key part of being a caregiver. This role allows you to become close with individuals you might not otherwise meet. Caregivers can learn from the experiences and stories of their patients, and the time spent caring for others will create a unique bond that many caregivers find gratifying.
Pathway to Permanent Residency
Certain caregiver programs in the US, such as H-2A and H-2B visa programs, may provide a pathway to permanent residency for caregivers who satisfy specific eligibility regulations. This can offer long-term stability and the chance to establish a presence in the country.
About Sponsored Visa
The sponsored visa under this arrangement refers to the practice where an individual, organization, or employer takes responsibility for supporting a foreign national with a visa to enter, live, and work in the US legally. Under the employment consideration, the employer sponsors the employee to obtain a visa and relocate to the US. Each country has a designed process for obtaining a visa and work permit for international employee transfers. However, the employer should be able to prove to the US Director of Labor that there are no US residents or citizens suitable or qualified for such a job role.
Visa Pathway to the US via the Caregiver Employment Route
There are several visa pathways through which you can immigrate to the US. However, under this guide, we’ll walk you through the Caregiver visa route.
Visa Options for Caregivers
EB-3 Visa for Caregivers
The EB-3 visa is a permanent US visa that allows the caregiver to live and work in America permanently. The EB-3 visa does not require any specific skill, credentials, or experience on the caregiver’s behalf. The caregiver must, however, be physically strong, healthy, and able to speak and understand English. They don’t need prior caregiving experience. The goal of this visa category is to bring in immigrants to fill a labor shortage in the US.
H-2B Visa
The H-2B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows people from a foreign country to work briefly in the US, ideally a popular choice for guardians, especially those who can only work during certain times of the year. Kindly understand that the H-2B allows families to sponsor a particular caregiver themselves, though it’s a more complicated process.
The family sponsoring the caregiver would need to prove there are not enough US workers who can do the work, and that hiring an employee through the H-2B program would not affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed US workers. The family will provide a valid labor certification from the US Department of Labor.
The USCIS states that there are three major steps to the process:
- The petitioner (the family sponsoring the caregiver) submits a temporary labor certification application to the DOL.
- The applicant (the caregiver) submits Form I-129 to USCIS.
- Prospective workers outside the US apply for a visa.
What Are the Requirements for a Caregiver Visa?
You are required to participate in a caregiver program approved by the state’s Department of Health. Housekeeping, home safety, personal hygiene, and medical care are all included in this training. However, to become a caregiver in the US, the best option is for an employer to sponsor you for the EB-3 visa. This allows you to live and work permanently in the United States.
Where to Get US Caregiver Sponsored Visa Jobs
There’s no rocket science involved when looking to get a US caregiver job in a sponsored category. While scouting for a job may be demanding and tasking, it’s still very much achievable. With the right approach, skill, and mindset, you can land a caregiving job in no time.
Be sure to check out job portals like Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn for caregiver job opportunities. They often publish these jobs through special links with US employers looking to fill caregiver spots. These opportunities most often come with sponsorship visas. If this sounds like what you’re looking for, why not apply to a couple of these openings and see how it goes?
However, be sure to tailor your CV in the best possible way to highlight your strong skills and ability related to caregiving. This will significantly increase your chances of securing a spot or being considered for an opening.
You can also reach out to US local recruitment agents who often have deals to recruit foreign talents for caregiver roles. This could be a great place to start your search.
Is Caregiver in Demand in the USA?
The demand for caregivers in the US is growing rapidly. The elderly care services industry, including retirement homes and assisted living, is expected to grow by 8% by 2028. Close to 9.7 million people work in caregiver roles in the US, including home health aides and companion caregivers.
Which Country is Best to Work as a Caregiver?
- Germany
- Australia
- Finland
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Canada
- USA, etc.
Conclusion
Caregiver employment in the US has grown exponentially. The aging population in the country has created a demand for quality caregivers. However, there are Americans who are considering looking outside the US for possible caregiver options.
If you are looking to immigrate to the United States for a caregiver job, rest assured that there’s a huge opportunity for you. Get started by sourcing an employer who is willing to sponsor your visa, make you a provisional offer of employment, and then travel to the States to assume duty at your designated job role.