The idea of the “American dream” is often what lures immigrants to the United States in the first place. They see it as a land of opportunity, a country where they can improve their lives and find new opportunities — for education, work, careers, family life, etc — that they wouldn’t have at home.
Unfortunately, many do find that chasing that American dream is harder than they may have realized. Stability, from a financial perspective, depends on working almost immediately. For many with no experience, this means seeking entry-level jobs just to make ends meet. Some have to work and have no chance to go to school and get the education that they really wanted when they opted to come to the U.S. in the first place. In other cases, they have to allow their careers to regress just to get work.
Take the case of a man who got an economics degree in Guatemala and then found work as an accountant. He thought he would be able to find a job in the United States, so he moved here with plans to move his family to join him later on. Unfortunately, he admitted that it was difficult to get a job and he ended up working at a convenience store.
In some instances, immigrants also face barriers like discrimination and prejudice. These things are illegal in a workplace setting, but that doesn’t mean they don’t happen. This can make it even harder to chase the American dream.
All of this isn’t to say that immigrants shouldn’t come to America. There are opportunities that can open new doors. They just need to understand the realistic experience they may have so that they can prepare for it and look into all of their legal options.
