Home > International Jobs in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is the hip place for urban living. California is the place of our teenage, television dreams. Growing up watching our favourite shows and stars based in LA, there can’t be many of us who haven’t thought how great it will be to live there. Anybody considering a career move elsewhere will be hard pressed to find a place with better lifestyle options than sunny Los Angeles Finding a job (and securing that work permit if you are not a US national) is the important part, but for all that information on working in Los Angeles, read on;

Visa for foreign nationals.
Before travelling to the U.S., a citizen of a foreign country must generally obtain a non-immigrant visa for temporary stay or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. The type of visa you will need is based on the purpose of your travel.

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides several categories of non-immigrant visas for a person who wishes to work temporarily in the United States. If you want to work in the U.S. temporarily, under immigration law, you need a specific visa based on the purpose of your travel and type of work you will be doing. To learn more, please see Temporary Workers and Employers-Hiring a Foreign National  for Short-Term Employment and Employer Information  on the USCIS website.  http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html

Applicants for temporary work visas should generally apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office abroad, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence. Visa applications are now subject to a greater degree of review than in the past so it is important to apply for your visa well in advance of your travel departure date. 

The non-immigrant visa application Form DS-156 lists classes of persons who are ineligible under U.S. law to receive visas. In some instances an applicant who is ineligible, but who is otherwise properly classifiable as a temporary worker, may apply for a waiver of ineligibility and be issued a visa if the waiver is approved.

As part of the visa application process, an interview at the embassy consular section is required for visa applicants from age 14 through 79, with few exceptions. Persons age 13 and younger, and age 80 and older, generally do not require an interview, unless requested by embassy or consulate.

Immigrating to the United States to live permanently is an important and complex decision. In general, to apply for an immigrant visa, a foreign citizen must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen relative(s), U.S. lawful permanent resident, or by a prospective employer, and be the beneficiary of an approved petition.

TN Visa (TN-1) for Canadians/Mexicans to work in the United States
NAFTA  (North American Free Trade Agreement) facilitates travel to and employment in the United States of certain Canadian and Mexican workers. NAFTA created TN classification for eligible Canadian and Mexican professional workers and affected terms of Canadians' admissions to the U.S. under other classifications. The TN employee must possess the credentials required as well as proof of qualifying citizenship. TN status allows unlimited multiple entries to the U.S. for the period of service required by the U.S. employer (includes foreign employers), up to a maximum of three years, and can be extended indefinitely as long as the temporary purpose of the employment continues.
There is no annual cap on TN work permits. Self-Employment in the U.S.is  not permitted.

Geography
Los Angeles lies on the hilly coast of Southern California in the Western United States. The region displays a variety of terrain with the Pacific Ocean coast line bordering the city for over 40 miles, the Santa Monica Mountain Range surrounding the north, and the San Gabriel Mountains marking the East. LA is also the only major US city to be bisected by a mountain range.

Climate
The highly desirable Mediterranean type climate is usually warm and sunny with an average of 329 days of sun per year. The average temperature is around 64°F (17°C), though smog-shrouded summer days can get well over 90°F (32°C) and winter temperatures around 55°F (12°C) are not uncommon. Most of the 15-17 inches of rain a year occur in the winter with the rainiest month being February, but freezing conditions are exceptionally rare. Though July and August are the most popular months for visitors, they are also the hottest and smoggiest with early autumn (fall) offering more comfortable temperatures and lower chance if oppressive smog. To miss the fog entirely, head to the beach which is almost always clear.

Working in Los Angeles
Los Angeles can be known as a "hard town to make it in" because of the many people who come to the city hoping to make a break in the entertainment industry. In reality, there are a variety of jobs available. Los Angeles City Government are one of the largest employers in the region Los Angeles large size and prevalence in the bioengineering, manufacturing, and other industries sets it to be a place for many important conventions. The Los Angeles Convention Center has recently gone green to fit the times of a business setting in a global city. A calendar of events, description of the facility, and event planning guide can all be found on the site.

Most companies offer 2 weeks of paid vacation time a year. Most companies offer a winter break around the end of December to New Years and two or three extra days at Thanksgiving.

Minimum wage is $8.00 per hour in California. Under most circumstances, wage earners and lower-level employees may be legally required by an employer to work more than forty hours in a week; however, they are paid extra for the additional work. Many salaried workers and commission-paid sales staff are not covered by overtime laws. These are generally called "exempt" positions because they are exempt from the federal and state laws which mandate extra pay for extra time worked. Generally, workers are paid time-and-a-half, or 1.5 times the worker's base wage, for each hour of work past forty.

Rules of termination are also usually stated in the contract and often dictate that an employee must give at least two weeks notice if they intend to quit. An employer must similarly give notice before firing the employee, although they do not necessarily need to have a reason, especially in the first three months of employment which is frequently considered a probation period.

Major Industries and Commercial Activity
California has always been known as an "incubator" of new ideas, new products and entrepreneurial spirit. Southern California has led the way in celebrating and nurturing that spirit. The people, institutions of knowledge, great climate and infrastructure have enabled the Los Angeles region to emerge as a leading business, trade and cultural center—a creative capital for the twenty-first century. The city is the largest manufacturing center in the West, one of the world's busiest ports, a major financial and banking center, and the largest retail market in the United States.

Los Angeles is the largest major manufacturing center in the United States, with 500,000 workers in manufacturing activities. The largest components are apparel (68,300 jobs), computer and electronic products (60,000 jobs), transportation products (54,600 jobs), fabricated metal products (49,900 jobs), food products (44,800 jobs), and furniture (27,400 jobs). The last few years have witnessed major economic expansion. The three-tiered, traditional economy (aerospace, entertainment, and tourism) has evolved into a well balanced, multi-tiered economic engine driven by unparalleled access to world markets.

Los Angeles is the largest major manufacturing center in the United States, with 500,000 workers in manufacturing activities. The largest components are apparel (68,300 jobs), computer and electronic products (60,000 jobs), transportation products (54,600 jobs), fabricated metal products (49,900 jobs), food products (44,800 jobs), and furniture (27,400 jobs). The last few years have witnessed major economic expansion. The three-tiered, traditional economy (aerospace, entertainment, and tourism) has evolved into a well balanced, multi-tiered economic engine driven by unparalleled access to world markets.

The city is one of the largest manufacturing centers in the world with a major banking industry and remains the largest retail market in the USA. Services, wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, government, financial service industries, transportation, utilities, and construction contribute significantly to local employment. Though not as glamorous as working in film, the average hourly wage of production workers in manufacturing is $18.67. Los Angeles maintains it's strong ties to Asia and Mexico by trade through its massive port.

The original 3 major industries of aerospace, entertainment, and tourism continue to thrive, but other industry has evolved as well. One of the newer industries is the booming biotechnology industry. It has quickly become a powerhouse in Los Angeles with over 200,000 jobs, making it a larger industry then even entertainment. More than 2,500 companies in Southern California make pharmaceuticals and other medical products.

The tourism and the entertainment industry which so many people pursue when coming to LA are still popular career paths and offer a variety of opportunities. Tourism employs more than 468,000 people in the entire metropolitan area. Every year young hopefuls descend on the city to make it big, and sometimes- with a little luck- they do!

Accommodation
Living costs in Los Angeles are 33% above the national average. One of the major reasons is the costs included in having a car which is practically a necessity. The price of basic household items can also deviate wildly from area to area. Movie stars and multimillionaires call some of Los Angeles's finer neighbourhoods’ home and the stores prices reflect that. Choosing your neighbourhood will define your costs. If you live in low-key Westwood your commute to work may add up, but local restaurants and housing will be reasonable. If you choose to live in upscale Beverly Hills, housing, dining and living in general will cost a fortune.
To get the area you want for a price you can live with a simple formula may be employed. Divide your monthly income (after tax) income by three. Not much more then a third of your income should go to rent to insure that you can pay for the cost of living. If this figure doesn't net you the desired lifestyle you still have options. Make more money, consider a different neighbourhood, or consider a different living arrangement by taking a roommate. There are many different apartments and many different ways to search and rent one. Here are a couple of options:

Broker: If you are arranging a rental from out-of-town or have more money then time, using a real estate broker can be a pain free way of getting the job done. A broker is responsible for finding apartments that fit your criteria and making appointments to fit your schedule. This convenience has a price, usually in LA one can expect to pay about a half month's rent as a fee, but this varies and it is recommended to shop around before selecting a broker. To find a broker you can check newspaper advertisements or online classified ads. Listings are also common in the yellow pages in the phone book. If you are employed with a company they may have a broker they work with and you may be able to use them by contacting your human resources department to use the broker your company uses. Pay attention to reviews by former customers to make sure you get your money's worth.

On-Line listing: There is a variety of on-line forums and community listings in which people will list their places or larger companies offer their apartments.

Apartment Guide: A magazine of listings is available for free at local shops and grocery stores. While there are many listings, they usually have larger apartment complexes listed.

Los Angeles Times: The classified section has a variety of listings in the paper and is also accessible on-line. Unfortunately, the on-line listings refer to another online apartment listing when you try to see details of the classified ads so the easiest way to check out listings is buying the paper.

The Daily Bruin: This large campus newspaper frequently has well-priced listings and is available for free on the UCLA's campus. Many of the listings are centered on the location of the university in western Los Angeles, but are always worth a look

Bulletin Boards: On college campuses, churches, grocery stores, schools, bus stops and outside community centres there are often boards available for posting local ads. This gives you an idea of the neighbourhood as well as some useful leads on apartments.

Driving Around: Many places are listed by simply placing a sign in front of the apartment. Sometimes only a number is listed so it can be helpful to write notes about the place and call the number on your cell phone.

Health
Exceptional health care is found in Los Angeles because it is the second largest system in the country and has a progressive research community. The UCLA Medical Center is known worldwide for its extensive and experienced staff and full range of services. Other factors contributing to the Centre’s top rankings include specialized intensive care units, state-of-the-art in-patient and outpatient operating suites, a Level-1 trauma center, and the latest diagnostic technology. UCLA Medical Center includes UCLA Children's Hospital; the Jules Stein Eye Institute; the Doris Stein Eye Research Center; UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center, and a network of follow-up care facilities.

To see a doctor you usually need to make an appointment first which may require you to wait for a week, or sometimes a month. Some doctors are already booked up and will not take new patients, but will refer you to another area doctor. When calling the office, the receptionist will find a date for you and usually ask about your insurance. It is expected that you pay a co-pay for your visit when you see the doctor depending on your insurance plan.

Free clinics can also be found where regular check-ups can be done at a fraction of the regular price.
However, these are usually first-come-first-serve so seeing a doctor may take all day.

Entertainment
Los Angeles's sunny weather allows for outdoor cafe dining almost year round. Farmer's markets and the Shopping Village in downtown LA offer elegant cafes with lots of street appeal. Other hangouts offer frequent performances of live music around the cool cafe environment. The oldest blues club in LA, Babe & Ricky's, is also in South Central and continues to be popular after 80 years in business. The House of Blues is another popular venue with live jazz, southern cooking, and a gospel brunch.

Bars in LA range from dingy dives to ultra-modern settings for hipsters. Liquor laws require bars to stop serving at 2AM which is strictly adhered to. Some bars don't close at 2, but they may not serve alcohol or risk fines and closure. Alcohol may also only be bought and consumed by those 21 and older which will be checked frequently.

Los Angeles's restaurant selection is as expansive as the variety of cuisines it offers. Among its 20,000 dining establishments, there are as many fast food spots as exclusive gourmet restaurants. Ethnic specialties from nearly every country in the world can be found in Los Angeles. Fresh seafood and beef, as well as produce from the nearby agricultural regions, are served in most of the city's restaurants.

Westwood Village has a collection of restaurants that offer a thriving night life. Its shopping, dining, and entertainment center in Hollywood is designed to mirror a 1916 classic movie set. The five-story, open-air complex, called Hollywood and Highland, includes the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, more than 60 specialty shops, public art exhibitions, six movie screens, restaurants, nightclubs, and the famous Kodak Theatre.

Outside of professional sports, the climate and geography of Los Angles pair to make a sun worshipper's paradise. It was on Los Angeles's sandy beaches that beach volleyball was first played and in its shimmering surf that adventurous souls first took on windsurfing. On less competitive days the beaches are overrun with surfers, swimmers and simply sun bathers. On dry ground, particularly Venice (also known as Dogtown), the sports of skateboarding and roller skating were popularized. Hollywood Park and Santa Anita Park are also nationally known thoroughbred racing facilities.

Luckily, there are a variety of other sports to enjoy. The Clippers and the Lakers are both popular basketball teams. The baseball team is called the ‘Dodgers’ and have their own stadium. The hockey team, the Kings, also play in this sunny city. Women's sports are also prominent with the popular Women's National Basketball League team, the Sparks. If soccer or "football" is your sport, the Galaxy and David Beckham call LA home.