Download this guide as a PDF (in Russian)

Entry-level and remote jobs for holders of a green card or a work permit (EAD).

  • Who it's for: People who have just arrived; people with no local experience or with a diploma that isn't recognized; moms with young children
  • What's inside: The right to work and first steps; jobs that need no experience; remote work; getting your diploma recognized; work for moms; job sites and protection from scammers

Aly Hudson LLC provides non-legal immigration document preparation services. It is not a law firm. This guide is for reference and educational purposes only and is not legal, career or financial advice. Company and website names are given for convenience and are not an endorsement or a guarantee of employment. The information and links are current as of the date this guide was prepared and may change - check the original sources.

Tip: read in order. Section 1 is for everyone; after that, pick the section that fits your situation.

1. Where to start: the right to work and your first documents

Before you look for a job, it's important to understand that you have the right to work, and to get a few basic things ready.

Who has the right to work

  • Green card (permanent resident). Gives you the right to work for any employer without any additional permission.
  • Work permit (EAD, Form I-766). Gives you the right to work for as long as the card is valid. Keep an eye on the expiration date and apply for a renewal ahead of time.

Important: questions about your specific status, EAD renewal or your right to a particular job should go to a licensed immigration attorney. This guide does not give legal advice.

What you'll need for almost any job

  • Social Security Number (SSN). Issued free of charge by the Social Security Administration - ssa.gov
  • A document showing your right to work. A green card or an EAD - needed for Form I-9, which is filled out when you are hired.
  • A bank account for your pay (direct deposit), a U.S. phone number and an email address.
  • A one-page resume in the American format: no photo, no date of birth or marital status; the focus is on skills and experience.

Free help nearby

  • American Job Centers. Government employment centers: they help with your resume and your job search, and sometimes offer free courses. Find the nearest one - careeronestop.org
  • English (ESL). Even basic English greatly widens your choice. Free classes are often offered at libraries, community colleges and nonprofits; free online - usalearns.org

2. Jobs with no experience and no English (on site)

These positions hire people with almost no experience. What counts is reliability, punctuality and a willingness to learn. English - minimal. The pay below depends on the state and the employer and is approximate.

  • Warehouses and logistics. Packer, sorter, picker (Amazon, FedEx, UPS, Walmart). They often hire quickly, and there are different shifts. ~$16-22/hour.
  • Cleaning and maintenance work. Hotel housekeeping, office cleaning, dishwasher / kitchen helper. ~$14-20/hour.
  • Retail and food service. Cashier, sales associate, barista, server's assistant, fast-food worker. Helps you improve your English quickly. ~$14-18/hour + tips.
  • Caring for people. Home health aide / caregiver (caring for the elderly); CNA - after a short course (4-12 weeks) and an exam. Huge demand. ~$15-22/hour.
  • Construction, finishing work, landscaping. Laborer, helper, landscaping. No diploma needed; you can grow into an electrician / plumber / HVAC technician through an apprenticeship. ~$17-25/hour.
  • Delivery and rides (gig). You need a car and a driver's license. Flexible schedule: DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Amazon Flex, Uber / Lyft. This is self-employment - taxes, gas and insurance are on you.

Tip. Your first job is a way in and language practice, not the finish line. After 6-12 months with local experience, you will have a wider choice.

3. Remote and at-home work

You need a computer, stable internet and a quiet place; some of the work needs no computer. Honest remote jobs NEVER ask you to pay for training or equipment.

  • Customer support by chat / email. Ideal if your spoken English isn't perfect - you communicate in writing. ~$15-22/hour.
  • Call center / phone support. If your spoken English is fine; training is usually provided.
  • Data entry. Attention to detail and basic Excel. ~$15-20/hour.
  • Virtual assistant (VA). Calendar, email, paperwork, research. ~$10-35/hour. Familiarity with AI tools is a plus.
  • Rating and labeling data for AI. Instead of experience - tests on the platforms: Appen, Telus International, Prolific. Paid per task, suits a side job.
  • Transcription. Transcribing audio; you need to type fast. General transcription - no certificate needed.
  • Freelancing based on your skills. Writing, design, translation (RU<->EN is in demand!), video editing, social media management - Upwork, Fiverr. Start with small orders and reviews.
  • Cards and printable templates for sale. Create greeting cards, invitations, posters and planners in Canva and sell them on Etsy as digital files (instant delivery, no shipping) or as print-on-demand. A low start; income grows with the number of products - roughly ~$3-10 per file, depending on demand and the number of listings. Use your own designs or elements that are allowed for resale (check the Canva license).
  • Online tutor. Teaching languages (Russian as a foreign language; English with a TEFL certificate), school subjects - Cambly, Preply, italki.
  • Social media and working in it (SMM). Managing accounts for small businesses, creating content (posts, Reels, Stories), designing profiles, copywriting, basic ad targeting and analytics. You can start on Upwork / Fiverr or directly with a local business in your community. Bilingual (RU/EN) content is a big plus.
  • Handmade crafts. Jewelry, candles, soap, knitting, sewing, decor, embroidery - sold on Etsy as handmade. Unlike digital files, these need shipping - build the cost of materials, packaging and shipping into the price. Soap, cosmetics and candles have labeling rules (including FDA rules for cosmetics) - check the requirements before you start selling.
  • Homemade food for sale (cottage food). Baked goods, preserves and jams, candy, dry mixes - foods that don't need refrigeration. In many states homemade food can be sold legally under cottage food laws, but registration or a permit and a food handler card are usually required; the list of allowed foods, the income limit and the rules of sale (in person, at farmers markets, sometimes online with local pickup) depend on the state. This is work from home, not at a computer. Heads-up: check your state's cottage food law and your local health department's requirements before you start.

Russian is an asset. Translation, tutoring, support for Russian-speaking customers, content - knowing two languages is valued everywhere.

4. If your diploma isn't recognized in the U.S. yet

The U.S. has no single body that "recognizes" diplomas: each employer or licensing board decides for itself. A foreign diploma doesn't "disappear" - it can be evaluated and gradually confirmed.

  • Credential evaluation. The best-known service is WES (wes.org): it converts your education into an equivalent the U.S. understands, for employers, universities and licenses. Paid. A directory of recognized services - naces.org.
  • If your education documents are lost. If you had to leave under duress - the WES Gateway program: an alternative evaluation when documents are limited.
  • Free career help for professionals. Upwardly Global (upwardlyglobal.org): free programs for immigrants and refugees with a university education - coaching, a U.S.-style resume, connections with employers. Check the terms of participation on the website.
  • Licensed professions (doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, engineers). Usually you need to pass additional exams / take courses and get a local license. The requirements depend on the state; community college is an inexpensive "bridge" (a bridge program).
  • An in-between strategy. Start with a related entry-level position in your field (for example, a former doctor - medical assistant / CNA; an engineer - technical assistant) while your credentials are being confirmed.

Ask a specialist: specific license requirements and how your immigration status affects them are questions for the state's professional bodies and a licensed attorney.

5. Work for moms with young children

The key is flexibility: working while your child naps, in the evening or in short blocks. Many positions are part-time, 15-30 hours a week.

From home, at a computer

  • Customer support by chat - no phone, in writing; flexible shifts.
  • Virtual assistant (part-time) and data entry in short blocks.
  • Freelancing: writing, design, translation, social media management - project work without fixed hours.
  • Online tutor / language teaching - you set your own schedule (Cambly, Preply, italki).
  • Transcription and website testing / user research (UserTesting) - side jobs of 15-60 minutes.

Close to home, flexible

  • Childcare in your own home (family child care - requires a state license) or babysitting in your neighborhood - Care.com.
  • Dog walking and pet sitting - Rover; cleaning on a flexible schedule.
  • Your own small business from home: cards and printable templates made in Canva and sold on Etsy, handmade crafts, homemade food (cottage food - under your state's rules) and social media management (more in section 3) - flexible and often with no shipping; as well as baking, needlework and services in your community.

Where to find "mom-friendly" jobs specifically

  • HireMyMom - jobs selected for moms; FlexJobs - part-time / flexible filter; Indeed - Remote + Part-time filters.

Tip. Even a few hours of childcare once or twice a week make remote work much more sustainable.

6. Where to look for work: sites and platforms

General job sites

Remote work

Freelancing, tutoring, care, help

  • Upwork / Fiverr - Freelancing based on skills (writing/design/translation) - upwork.com
  • Cambly / Preply - Teaching languages online - cambly.com
  • Care.com / Rover - Babysitting, caregiving, dog walking - care.com
  • HireMyMom - Flexible jobs for moms - hiremymom.com
  • WES / Upwardly Global - Diploma evaluation and career help - wes.org
  • Canva - Designing cards and printable templates - canva.com
  • Etsy - Selling digital files and handmade goods - etsy.com/sell

A resume for every job. Tailor your resume to the keywords in the job posting and set up job alerts so you don't miss new openings.

7. How not to fall for scammers

Scammers often try to deceive new immigrants. Remember these signs and always check the employer.

Red flags

  • They ask for money up front (for "training," equipment, a "starter kit") - these are scammers. A real employer pays you.
  • They promise huge earnings with no experience and no effort, "get rich trading / on crypto."
  • Interviews only on WhatsApp / Telegram / by text, no company website, an unofficial email address.
  • They ask for your bank details or SSN before you are officially hired.
  • "Forward the money" or processing other people's payments through your account - a money-laundering scheme, this is dangerous.
  • MLM and "commission-only insurance agents, no base salary." This is not a salaried job; often you pay for the license and the "leads" yourself. Be careful.

How to check

  • Find the job on the company's official website; check the reviews (Glassdoor) and the real address / phone number.
  • Work-from-home scams - how to spot them and where to report them (FTC): consumer.ftc.gov and reportfraud.ftc.gov.

8. Free help and useful links

You are not alone. A first job is rarely perfect - it is the first step. Small steps every day lead to big results.

Aly Hudson LLC

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