Do I need a working visa if I am from United States of America to Amsterdam or France?

Question

Do I need a working visa if I am from United States of America to Amsterdam or France?

Answer 1

Yes,  you need a working visa

Answer 2

Yes, you do.

Answer 3

absolutely

Answer 4

Well if you want to work in either country then yes, even as an American you require a working visa and I can give you the same answer as another of your country mates who asked this in the last 24 hours as well for the Netherlands.  France (as prt of the EU) will have the same basis of policies

.....it is true that throughout the EU, immigration policies have been tightened up dramatically in the last 5-10 years (similar to a European trying to get a job in the US)

Therefore you will struggle unless you have a skill which is in specific demand (and which cannot be fulfilled by the pool of labour in the total EU)

In short - unless you hold a EU passport (or have a relationship with a Dutch/EU national) then in principle there are only a couple of 'routes' in to getting a working visa (and you can read all of these on this site easily - I checked)

(a) being self-employed http://www.ind.nl/EN/verblijfwijzer/verb...

(b) as a 'au pair' http://www.ind.nl/EN/verblijfwijzer/verb...

(c) As a highly skilled migrant http://www.ind.nl/EN/verblijfwijzer/verb...

(d) When aa company sponsors you with a job offer http://www.ind.nl/EN/verblijfwijzer/verb...

Basically to get a working visa for the latter you must have a job offer and it is catch 22 as companies do not want to take the time, money or effort to bring someone from outside the EU unless they hold specialist knowledge/experience that they cannot find within the EU.

You will see for many job advertisments that they specifiy that applications can only be accepted from people eligible (EU or already holding a working visa) to work already.

You could also look at International companies which have branches in your country and also the Netherlands with a view to a transfer (based on knowledge/experience) as this is a viable route in, otherwise I think you will have a difficult task

Sometimes another user - Conley also posts (an American who is living in Italy) and gives really good advice in his answer also.  He got here by this option but it took him 8 months even being sponsored to arrange everything.  So hopefully he also sees this and can offer you advice

As for citizenship - this is another story, and indeed many of the options laid out (e.g. Au pair, study visa etc) will not give you a permanent residence which will entitle you to apply for citizenship.  I am also not sure if the company sponsoring you is a temporary or permanent visa, so it is wise if you check this carefully

The IND site also has "brochures" which summarise a lot of the info you are looking for here (and in English for many as well) http://www.ind.nl/EN/algemeen/brochures/...