How to Transition to a Visa Sponsored Charity Career
One of the underrated ways to get visa sponsorship is through having a charity career. A charity career allows you perform volunteering and philanthropic activities to a country of your interest. Since those who have charity careers are not doing it for their own income, their visa sponsorship request is usually accepted. Now, you see why you need to transition into having a charity career.
Well, this article will give you details on how you can do that. You will read step-by-step process on how to transition to a visa sponsored charity career. You’ll also see countries that welcome charity workers and eligibility criteria involved. Let’s get started already.
What Is a Visa Sponsored Charity Career?
A visa sponsored charity career means working for a non-profit organization that is legally allowed to employ foreign workers and support their work visa application. They offer you a job and help the government approve your visa so you can live and work in that country.
The charity visa sponsorship is different from tourist visas or student visas that is usually given. Unlike these visas that doesn’t allow you to work full-time, the sponsored charity visa allows you to work full-time and even allow you to bring your family along.
Countries That Sponsor Charity Workers
These are the countries that are known for offering visa sponsorship for charity workers:
1. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom tops the list of one of the most popular countries for visa sponsored charity jobs. In fact, it would surprise you to know that many UK charities are actually registered as sponsors under the Skilled Worker visa route.
As such, you get to carry out charities work in healthcare, education, homelessness support and community development.
However, there is also a Charity Worker visa that is also offered to foreigners who are interested in it. Under this visa, most jobs are usually unpaid and as such, it is best that the organization applies for the Skilled Worker Visa for you.
On your part, you could also do well to check for the list of licensed sponsors outlined in the UK Government website.
2. United States
The United States makes up top countries that offers visa sponsorship opportunities for charity workers. In the United States, this is usually done through non-profit organizations, hospitals, universities and religious institutions.
The H-1B visas is used especially if you have to perform specialized charity roles in the United States. Sometimes, you can also be offered the J-1 visas for exchange and training programs or the R-1 visas for religious workers.
If you’re a skilled worker, you can take advantage of this charity roles. This is because it can lead to a long-term stay in the United States.
So look out for large international charities that operate in the US and regularly employ foreign professionals in roles such as program coordination, research, healthcare, and education. You could also get land one sponsored charity roles for your self too.
3. Canada
Canada is one of the countries that is known for its friendly immigration system and strong non-profit sector. You’ll be surprise at how many Canadian non-profit organizations hire foreign workers every year. In some cases, they do this without even the need of writing tests.
In Canada, you can find sponsored charity roles in sectors such as education, healthcare and social work. In fact, Canadian indigenes have said that some charity jobs can also lead to permanent residency through Canadian immigration programs.
4. Australia
Australia sponsors charity workers mainly through approved their non-profit organizations and humanitarian agencies. The Australian charity roles you find are usually combined with the government programs.
As a result, this helps to increase the ability of Australian organizations to sponsor visa. When it comes to charity roles, Australia is one of the most organized countries that you’ll see do that.
Eligible Criteria for a Visa Sponsored Charity Career
Here are the eligibility criteria to get visa sponsored charity career:
1. Education
In visa sponsorship opportunities relating to charity roles, you don’t always need a university degree. Well, this doesn’t mean that your degree would not make you stand out. This simply means that if you have a degree you can always put it in. However, if you don’t have, you can always apply and you could get hired.
For those with degrees, ensure to put in degrees relating to teaching, healthcare or research. These degrees usually show that you have some kind of knowledge in performing charity works. Your employer could even prioritize you in comparison to others.
2. Experience in Volunteering
If you’ve done any charity roles in the past, you could also include it in your CVs. Yes, even jobs that you just volunteered and not paid for could make your CV stand out.
So, feel free to include charities that you’ve done to help communities or others. The more volunteer works that you’ve done in the past, the higher you chances of making it to the interview stage.
3. Language Requirements
Most countries especially the United States would require you to speak and understand the main language used at work. For English-speaking countries, basic to good English is often required.
If you get a Skilled Worker Visa, you may be required to show a language test results but other visas may not really demand that.
The reason why this is always needed is because good communication skills help you work with colleagues who might need your help.
How to Transition Into a Visa Sponsored Charity Career
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to transition into a visa sponsored charity career:
Step 1. Identify Your Soft Skills
The first thing you need to do is too identify the soft skills that you already have. This would require that you look inwards and access the skills that you already have.
These skills could include your communication skills, your teaching skills or even your technical ability. All of these things would be demanded from you when you to transition into a visa sponsored charity career.
Step 2. Choose the Right Country
When it comes to sponsored charity roles, different countries have their different policies that they abide by. Yes, some countries would demand that you write a series of tests to be really certain of your skills.
Other countries would only require you to fill out a form and that’s it. So, select a country where the policies fit to your charity skills and where visa sponsorship is suitable for you.
Step 3. Insert your Experience
In your application to the visa sponsored charity career, do well to insert your experience. As mentioned earlier, you can even add work that you did even when you were not paid. So far that it is related to volunteering, it will be considered.
In the event where you lack experience, you can start volunteering online. Even a little task a day can be said to be a charity work when it is recognized.
READ THIS: How to Get a Sponsored Job in the UK Under the Skilled Worker Visa
Step 4. Get Necessary Certifications
Certifications make your CV look attractive to your prospective employers. If you can, ensure that you register for trainings and get certifications on these trainings. Don’t just add only one certifications, add as many as possible that you can gather. The more certifications you have, the better your chances of landing a job.
Step 5. Prepare your CV
As a charity worker, your CV should portray that. You should sent a CV that showcase you as an engineer when you are want a charity worker role. So, your CV should highlight your experience and relevant skills to charity roles.
Step 6. Apply Strategically
The next thing to do is to apply for visa sponsorship opportunities in charity. Yes, using job boards and targeting countries like the US and the UK, apply for jobs. Do not forget to apply for jobs that state clearly that they would sponsor your visa application. Look out for keywords on the Job Description that suggest so.
Step 7. Secure the Job Offer and Visa
Once you qualify the interview stage and receive a job offer, the charity organization will guide you through the visa process. On your part, you need to carefully follow the instructions that you will be given and submit all required documents involved.
Conclusion
It is possible to transition into a visa sponsored charity career easily. First, you need to know what a charity career is all about and how it works. Then, you are supposed to know the countries that offers visa sponsorship for charity roles. Afterwards, you’ll have to check out how to land this role and successfully transition to the charity career. All of this have been highlighted in this article.
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