H2B Positions Available & Qualifications

Sierra-at-Tahoe®  Resort sponsors H2B Visas for Certified Ski School Instructors and returning employees.  New applications will be considered as needed.  Please consider the following information prior to sending your resume.

• All H2B applicants must commit to working for the entire season, we typically stay open until the 3rd week in April. 
• All H2B Visas are pending Department of Labor and USCIS approval.  We cannot guarantee when the Visas are approved.  Airline flights should not be purchased until the Visas have been approved.
• Employees on a H2B Visa are authorized to work only for Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort while in the United States.
• All H2B applications must include a letter of recommendation and proof of certifications prior to submittal.  If you are offered a job, you must return a COMPLETED H2B packet.

About the Visa Process

Important Considerations

About the Visa Process

To help understand the time and commitment involved in the H-2B process, we are providing a time line that includes specific dates and agencies that Sierra has to seek approval from prior to the H-2B approval.

June & July                 

• Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort must first provide proof to the Department of Labor and immigration authorities that we have exhausted all recruiting efforts available to us here.
• Submit all applications and required paperwork.  See above table for required paperwork.   

August

• Request approval for Labor Certification from U.S. Department of Labor upon proof of completion of recruiting strategy.

Late August – Early September

• Submission of all complete I-129 forms to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) formerly known as the INS.

October to early November

• Approvals from USCIS are received. 
• Applicants proceed and set up interviews with the U.S. consulate in their home country to receive the H2B Visa in their passport.
• Upon approval, applicants must then apply to pick up the visa at the U.S. consulate in their own country.  We strongly urge every international staff member to pick up his or her visa from the consulate in his or her home country during our off season due to heightened security measures implemented by the USCIS.
•  Additionally, we strongly recommend all H2B workers to return to their home country at end of their work-visa authorization.  Some of U.S. consulates have denied work visas to individuals who are unable to demonstrate strong ties to their home country.

How to pick up your visa?

• Check out the website of the U.S. consulate in your home country and become familiar with the process.  The process is different for each consulate.
• Set up an appointment for an interview at the U.S. consulate and provide appropriate paperwork.  Set up your interview as soon as you can as some consulates will take several weeks to schedule an interview. 
• Fees are assessed by each consulate ($100-$200) depending on your country.  These fees are not paid for by Sierra Ski Resort.
• Make your travel arrangement accordingly and beware of delays as we are working with several different governmental agencies.

Important Considerations

Sponsoring Authority:  A person who is employed with an H2B visa may only work within the specified position they have been employed to fill, and only for the company that has sponsored the Visa application.

Sponsor Fee:  Sierra Ski Resort makes every attempt to premium process all I-129 forms, but there is a cost associated with this effort.  In order to help offset the rising costs of H2B visas, we require a $250 processing fee to be collected from each applicant.  Payments can be made with cash, check, or by credit card.  We will require payment by August 11th, before we submit the I-129 application.

At Will Employment:  At Sierra, both the employee and the company have the right to terminate employment at any time, with or without cause.  This arrangement is called “employment at will” and no one in the organization, other than the President has the authority to alter that arrangement, to enter into an agreement for employment for a specified period of time, or to make any agreement contrary to this policy.

Weather Risk:  The winter resort industry is largely dependent on snow.  While Lake Tahoe usually enjoys excellent snow conditions, sometimes Mother Nature does not cooperate and snow comes late.  If we experience low or delayed snow or other fluctuating business conditions out of our control, we may be unable to open all or part of the ski area as scheduled.  In that event, work my not be available to you.

U.S. Social Security Card:  To be eligible to work in the U.S., all individuals must have a social security number.  If you do not have one already, please apply for one upon receiving your visa or once you arrive to the U.S.  Please the website for Social Security for the office nearest you.  (http://www.ssa.gov/)

Tax Information:  There have been some misunderstandings regarding the filing status and withholdings for employees on an H2B visa.  H2B visa employees are required to pay taxes as if they were permanent resident, which means they will have all the regular tax withholdings taken out of their paycheck.  Federal Tax Law does not allow a nonresident alien to write “exempt” on line 7 of the form W-4.

Embassy & Consulate procedures and policies:  The policies for issuance of visas for foreign work and travel vary widely from country to country and from embassy/consulate to embassy/consulate.  These procedures may also change from day-to-day.  Some consulates require you to pay a service fee to receive your visa.  You are responsible to pay this fee.  You should check with your consulate or embassy on a regular basis to be well informed of their particular procedures.  You may learn more about your consulate by going to the State Department website at www.travel.state.gov.

Employee Housing:  Sierra-at-Tahoe offers assistance in finding housing in the town of South Lake Tahoe.  Apartment and hotel-style housing is more readily available here than many other ski towns. Rent in the area range from $300-$600 a month per person, and deposits are generally $300-$600. Free shuttle service to the resort is available. 

Timing of Visa Approval and Issuance: The timing for Visa approvals and issuance is beyond the control of Sierra Resort.  We make all reasonable efforts to help expedite the process, but there are no guarantees.  You should carefully weight the financial consequences to you that may results from visa delays and plan accordingly.  In the past visas have been available for pick up as early as late October, and late as early January. 

Travel Arrangements:  In making travel arrangements, you should consider the possibility that visa issuance maybe delayed.  We strongly recommend that you not make any reservations before you receive your visa at the consulate/embassy.  You may want to consider some form of travel insurance.

Working in a foreign country:  While in the U.S., you must be prepared to be self-sufficient.  If you have substantial personal, family, or financial commitments that cannot tolerate uncertainty, seasonal work may not be appropriate for your circumstances.

Applying at other resorts:  Out of respect for the time and resources that Sierra puts into applying for these H2B Visas, we ask that if offered a job with us and you accept, that you not apply at any other resort after we start the visa process.  Additionally, we realize that emergencies do arise but a cancellation on your part after we have submitted your Visa Petition to the USCIS may adversely affect your future applications with us.