안녕하세요, 미국에서 대학교를 2024년 12월경 학사로 졸업했습니다. 건축계열로 미술대학 이기는 하나, STEM에 포함되는것으로 학교 측에서는 확인하였습니다. (이 부분이 맞는 절차인지는 잘 모르겠습니다만.)OPT 지원은 개인 사정상 하지 않았습니다. 아무튼 자세한 이유는 그렇다쳐도2월 중순에 한국으로 귀국 후 현재 까지 백수 상태입니다. 경력이나 인턴 이력이 없습니다. 학교에서 공모전 몇개 출품한거, 동아리 몇개 한거 말고는 없습니다. 일단 현재 상태는 제로 베이스라 생각합니다. 하지만, 이 상태에서 미국으로 취업할 수 있는 방법이 어떤 방법이 있는지 궁금합니다.특히1. 혹시나 현재 상황에서 전공과 무관한 경력을 한국에서 쌓아서 미국으로 취업하는 경우, 전공 연관성을 버리고 쌓은 경력으로 취업하는 방향이 맞을까요? OPT만 봐도 전공과 연관성 있는 일을 지원해야 인정하는 것으로 알고 있습니다.2. 현재 제로 베이스에서 미국 대학교 졸업장과 포트폴리오 만들어서 미국으로 취업하는 경우 인턴이건, 계약이건 뭐가 됐건 취업할 수 있는 방법이 현실적으로 타임라인이 구체적으로 어떻게 되는지 궁금합니다. 한국 경력도 어떤 경우를 인정할지 궁금합니다. 제가 아는 바로는 한국 경력을 대부분 인정하지 않는 것으로 알고있습니다.3. 그리고 미국에 취업 했을 경우 영주권 절차가 어떻게 되는지 궁금합니다.

https://naver.me/xbAm0Qoo 경제·건강·일상 이야기 – 실생활에 도움 되는 정보 제공

"건강, 경제, 일상에 대한 실용적인 정보와 팁을 공유하는 블로그입니다. 더 나은 삶을 위한 균형 잡힌 지혜를 나누어요."

naver.me

Of course! Here's a full English version of your situation and the answers to your three questions, structured clearly and professionally:

U.S. Employment & Immigration Path from Zero Base (Architecture Major)

Background:

Graduated from a U.S. university in December 2024 with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture (under a Fine Arts college, but your school confirmed it qualifies as a STEM major).

Did not apply for OPT due to personal reasons.

Returned to South Korea in February 2025.

Currently unemployed with no internships or work experience.

Experience includes a few competitions and club activities from school.

Starting from zero base, looking for realistic ways to pursue employment and eventual immigration to the U.S.

Q1. Can I gain unrelated work experience in Korea and later apply for a job in the U.S., even if it’s not related to my degree?

Technically, it’s possible to get work experience in a different field, but for U.S. employment-based visas (especially H-1B), the job must usually be closely related to your degree.

OPT (Optional Practical Training) and H-1B both require the job to match your field of study. If you build experience in an unrelated field, it may help with skills, but won’t support a U.S. visa petition based on your architecture degree.

✅ Recommended path: Try to stay within your field — even loosely related jobs like:

Interior design

Urban planning

CAD/Revit/3D modeling work

Construction tech roles

That way, your Korean work experience still supports your future visa applications.

Q2. From zero base, what is a realistic timeline to get a job in the U.S.?

Here’s a practical step-by-step path and timeframe:

Time

Action

Description

2025 (Now)

Build a strong portfolio + resume

Include school projects, club competitions, and personal designs

Mid to Late 2025

Work in a related field in Korea (e.g. entry-level design/architecture)

Aim for 6 months to 1 year of relevant experience

Early 2026

Start applying to U.S. firms that sponsor H-1B

Focus on firms with prior H-1B sponsorship

April 2026

Submit H-1B application (lottery)

Highly competitive (25–35% chance)

October 2026

If selected → Start working in the U.S. with an H-1B visa

Valid for up to 6 years with extensions

Alternative strategy:

You could apply to a U.S. graduate program (e.g., M.Arch) and restart with F-1 → OPT → H-1B again.

Q3. Will my Korean work experience be recognized in the U.S.?

It depends.

U.S. employers usually care less about where the work was done and more about:

Your skills

Your portfolio

How you communicate your experience

If the work is related to architecture/design, it can definitely help your job search. But for immigration (like H-1B or green card), they’ll ask for proof that your job matches your degree field.

Q4. If I get a job in the U.S., how does the green card process work?

Here’s a simplified overview of the employment-based green card process (EB2/EB3):

Job Offer + PERM Labor Certification

The employer must prove no qualified U.S. worker is available for your job.

I-140 Petition

Your employer files an immigrant petition to sponsor you.

Priority Date Waiting

You wait for your priority date to become current (not backlogged for Korea).

I-485 (if in the U.S.) or Consular Processing (if outside)

You apply for the green card and go through background checks, etc.

Total time: Usually 2 to 5 years, depending on the visa category and employer.

✅ Summary for Your Situation:

Build relevant experience in Korea in architecture/design.

Create a strong portfolio and CV.

Target U.S. firms with H-1B sponsorship history.

Consider a U.S. graduate program if you want another chance at OPT.

Be prepared for a long-term process (2–5 years) toward permanent residency.

Let me know if you'd like help drafting your resume, reviewing your portfolio, or finding U.S. firms that sponsor international hires in architecture. I’d be happy to support you!

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