what to do if you would like to start to work in America as an architect and you are European?
DEGREE
Our education is considered “stronger” than the American one. Our Master’s degree is a II level degree in America. Anyway, it has to be validated with an equivalent degree (for example contacting the “Evaluation Service Agency”) . But since law changes very often, the best solution is to contact an embassy before to start.
LICENSE
The professional license for the freedom to operate – taken within Europe – isn’t valid in the USA. It is necessary to start from the beginning, passing a series of tests and 4 years of practical training.
In addition to this, the license isn’t valid for each state of the union. Each of them has its own regulation, so you should decide before where are you going to practice.
Luckily, License is required only for who signs contracts and not for collaborators. So perhaps you could also avoid this task if you are going to work for others and not for your own firm.
VISA
If you make frequently travel towards the USA for work, it is better to avoid using a tourist visa rather than a work visa. The checks are very frequent and very often people have been stopped at customs because police detected documents, usb, work material.