Navigating the International Career Journey in Hollywood

By: Dani Coronado, Creative Development Coordinator

I remember some years ago, attending my NYU admitted students event. As a Canadian from a smaller city outside Vancouver, getting into the school already felt like a significant achievement. But stepping into the Tisch building for the first time… the joy and excitement were palpable.

I remember feeling a newfound sense of belonging and purpose as I listened to a presentation highlighting the achievements of the school’s distinguished alumni. It was then that I realized my future now held a potential I never could have even dreamed of before.

I also remember when it all came crashing down at the very end of the presentation when my mom asked the question: “How about your international students? What are some of the things they’ve done?”.

“Most of them return home after graduation,” the administrator responded. “Truthfully, it's quite challenging for them to establish careers in the US. Many don't stay.”

Suddenly, I felt like an outsider. That day was the first of many more times I would experience the roller coaster ride of emotions related to this industry and immigration — dealing with others' disbelief in me, wondering "what's the point?", and similar experiences. This is a ride, I’ve come to realize, that I’m strapped into for life.

In this industry, it feels that when we sign our paperwork for a job, we also inherently sign on to live a life fraught with unpredictability. More recently, the volatile pressures and challenges have seemingly intensified by factors beyond most of our control — from pandemics to strikes, and the constant specter of layoffs looming over corporations. Each day, we fight to hold onto our positions, so that one day our dreams might come true. Each day, we fight to stay.

However, for many international individuals working in the United States, the “fight to stay” isn't just about maintaining employment; it's also about holding onto a place in the country they have come to call home. The fear of, or actual job loss isn’t merely a setback, disappointment, or financial concern. It could also mean the unraveling of the life one has painstakingly built. It could mean the ending of a visa. It could mean a sudden 60-day ticking time bomb before you have to leave the country. It could mean having to start all over again. So how can an international professional succeed in an industry where stability seems elusive and often feels more like a concept than a reality?

Like many international students at US universities, after graduating, I started what's known as "Optional Practical Training," or "OPT." Essentially, it's a one-year work authorization allowing international students to work in positions related to their field of study in the US. As I began my OPT journey in 2023, I had a clear vision of how the year would unfold for me. I was the girl, after all, who had a track record of making everything possible. I took on multiple jobs throughout college to support myself through it and graduate. I successfully worked numerous internships and coffee-chatted my way through a thoroughly concerning amount of caffeine (perhaps enough to last me a few years) to ensure I’d finish school already having industry experience and good connections. I poured hours into crafting spreadsheets, documents, and calendars, mapping out my entire strategy for my OPT year. I was absolutely certain that by the end of it, I'd have a US work visa and a job. I did everything I could to set myself up for success, and I was determined to prove that administrator from years ago wrong — I was here to stay.

However, ultimately, like many, my 2023 resembled a tumultuous journey through the job market. Every time I secured a new position, it seemed I was thrown a curveball, whether it was being laid off within the first month of a role, hiring freezes, or industry strikes. Under OPT regulations, there’s a strict limit to how long you can remain unemployed before your work authorization ends. The instability pushed me to bounce between New York and Los Angeles, hopping from one job to another in a desperate attempt to stay afloat and maintain my employment eligibility.

By the end of the year, I had wound up with a total of seven different jobs. While this was far from the original plan, I’m grateful for every employment opportunity I had. Looking back at it, the experience of taking on multiple, shorter-term jobs provided me with valuable connections and diverse experiences across the US, as well as in countries like Canada and the UK. In hindsight, I wouldn’t have done it any other way — it ultimately shaped me into a more resilient and resourceful international professional.

Ultimately, my perspective had also shifted drastically by the end of the year. In the first half of the year, I was terrified at the prospect of not securing a US visa to stay after my OPT ended, but by the end of the year, I instead chose to return home for a while on my terms. 2023 taught me a lot, one of the most crucial lessons being that life isn’t solely about career pursuits — my career can wait.

After numerous discussions with fellow international entertainment professionals this past year, I came to realize that once you begin your career journey, hitting pause isn't always an option, especially for international individuals, as it could jeopardize your visa status. Much of the advice I received emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities and pursuing personal aspirations — the things you can't get this time back for — before committing to a visa. Life on a visa, particularly a TN or H-1B, is tightly linked to your work, shaping your entire livelihood and often limiting personal control. Since my OPT ended, I've focused on preparing for the next phase — embracing my personal aspirations, seizing opportunities in my home country, and staying connected to the global industry. While some may see my current decision as a step back, I view it as a strategic move to ensure I'm fully prepared to achieve my dreams in the future.

While we all encounter similar challenges, our personal experiences are unique. Despite the difficulties of the journey, I've felt that the most significant hurdle often revolves around feeling isolated. That's why I reached out to fellow international entertainment professionals to gather their insights on navigating the U.S. entertainment industry. Here are the key takeaways:

1. There are many misconceptions about what it means to hire international workers.
   

• Many employers, especially larger agencies and studios, have policies that automatically deem applicants ineligible if they currently need or might need visa sponsorship in the future, barring even those on OPT from applying. Such companies often require unrestricted authorization in the United States. 
  

• These complexities are often overlooked, which leads to the false impression that securing a job offer is all that is needed to stay in the country.
  

• Recruiters' insights reveal lengthy work authorization periods as prerequisites for assistant roles not always posted in job descriptions. One respondent noted: “[a network] recruiter told me that at least 7 years of work authorization was needed to be considered for an assistant job,” while a “[major studio] recruiter told me that unlimited work authorization was needed to be considered and cited ROI and 2-year minimum contracts as the reason.”
  

• The topic of visa sponsorship remains a "taboo" among HR professionals, creating additional barriers during hiring.

1. The process of securing a job for international employees and applicants is challenging at every stage.
   

• One professional shared a disheartening experience: "I've literally had a job offer rescinded when they realized I wasn't American.” They continued, "The number of international assistants I know (past their OPT) who are not dual American citizens who managed to stay [in the US] is abysmal. I can think of less than 10."
  

• One contributor commented: “I still don’t know what to click when I’m presented with the 'do you now or in the future need work sponsorship?' question. I know my application won’t be looked at if I’m honest about needing it, but I also don’t want to lie and potentially burn a bridge with a company or employer.”
  

• One individual advised, “A lot of the process of getting a work visa will fall on you. Even if you have a company willing to sponsor you and immigration lawyers, expect to do a huge chunk of the work yourself.”

1. Work authorization regulations impose constraints on job opportunities for international professionals. This constraint often forces them to adapt their career aspirations to meet visa requirements and prevents them from pursuing non-industry jobs for stable income, unlike others who can take on side jobs without such limitations.
   

• One respondent highlighted this challenge, stating, “I could only work in what my visa allowed me to do, and I wasn't able to get a day job that would ensure I had a stable bit of income at the end of the day.”
  

• Many international professionals find themselves adapting or deferring their career aspirations to comply with visa requirements. As one respondent expressed, “I have put my career aspirations to the side and I mostly focus on finding any job that is related with H1B requirements so I can stay in the US.” This pragmatic approach can feel disheartening, with another respondent acknowledging, “I have had to shrink my dreams a bit.”
  

• While one's career is a significant aspect of life, the constraints of working under a visa often mean that all other facets of life must align with or accommodate their work. As noted by a respondent, “I really struggled to manage my personal life and pursuits while I was in the US, and at one point all the spinning plates just came crashing down. It’s important to make time for personal pursuits by prioritizing them.” 

1. Industry disruptors like the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 strikes particularly challenged international workers in the U.S. For example, during the strikes, one international employee faced layoffs and struggled to find new employment due to visa sponsorship requirements: “My team and I were laid off, and I was the only international employee. It was the hardest period of my life, and I am still struggling to secure a job due to my need for visa sponsorship.” For this person, despite networking and recommendations, the unavailability of sponsorship often led to silence after applying to over 100 jobs. Being considered the ideal candidate but still denied due to sponsorship constraints highlights the systemic hurdles for international professionals.

1. There is a need for greater awareness and inclusivity in Hollywood’s hiring practices. As one respondent shared: “I’ve gotten a lot of advice that felt very insensitive while on my OPT. Take, for instance, the advice I received about how it takes 2-3 years minimum to settle into life in LA. Or the advice that I should seek work outside the industry for more financial stability. While I appreciate any advice someone has to share, and while this is definitely good advice for most, I quickly realized that most people won’t understand what I’m going through or know how to help. There was even a time when a well-known and successful Executive Producer joked that he’d rather find me a spouse who’d marry me in the year than find me a job in the industry that would hire me under my OPT conditions because it’d be easier for him.”

1. Some have found innovative ways to tackle visa challenges and stay positive.
   

• For example, one person established a production company to meet employment requirements and ease concerns about job security during their OPT. This experience expanded their view of global opportunities, as they explained, “It got me to start opening my mind up and thinking about different countries, and their entertainment industries. Doing that research eased my anxiety a bit and reminded me that I have options.” 
  

• Others embrace a proactive approach, using the time limit as motivation to pursue their goals. As one respondent put it,  “I didn't think too much about the limitations. If there was a deadline on how long I had in the country, I used that as motivation to find work and accomplish my goals sooner rather than later.” 
  

• Another individual, a former US student, found comfort in accepting their circumstances, stating, “Accepting my reality instead of resenting it and being angry has helped me. I know this is what I am meant to do, and having my incredible training behind me is only an asset.” 
  

• Reflecting on their journey, one executive who transitioned from temporary work authorization to a green card shared, “I knew if I messed up and got fired back then, I’d have to fly home. But now I’m living my dreams. I made it out on the other side, and it was all worth it for me. That doesn’t mean it is for everyone, though, and it’s okay if it isn’t worth it for you, or even just right now.”

To wrap this up, I’d like to second what one form respondent noted: “If you are not an international professional, you definitely know one. Please support them by raising awareness in staff meetings and advocating for them whenever possible. Their journey is challenging and often underappreciated. I've experienced the frustration firsthand: I received an offer letter, only to be told by HR on the same day, 'We won't be able to sponsor you. Once your OPT ends, you cannot continue working with us.' It's tough and leaves you feeling like you don't belong anywhere.”

The roller coaster of emotions I shared at the beginning of this article often hits me in waves. Some days, I find myself in tears, longing for the chance to return to the US, knowing I could make it work if I were there. Beyond career aspirations, I feel like I left a piece of myself there — with the friends and family I've grown to love over the past few years. I eagerly anticipate the day I'll be back and am actively working towards making it happen, hoping someone might take a chance on my work authorization situation.

I wish I could neatly conclude this article with a fail-safe solution tailored to people like me. Frankly, however, I’m far from being the one to give answers because my journey is still a work in progress, and I'm learning along the way, just like many others out there. Nevertheless, to those “many others”, my fellow international professionals, I commend you for bravely navigating the unique challenges we face. Please never forget that our experiences are valid and that you are not alone. The pressure to succeed may feel overwhelming, but amidst the heartbreak and hardships, your joys and accomplishments carry the hopes of many. Our existence is proof that dreams transcend borders, and we have the strength to overcome them. I hope you continue to pursue your aspirations with determination and resilience, and I hope to support and uplift each other along the way.

Finally, I've launched a Discord community tailored for international professionals in the entertainment industry seeking genuine connections with like-minded individuals who understand the unique challenges we face. If you'd like to be a part of it, you can do so here: https://discord.gg/cpD4htWcZn 

Thank you to Bruna Debski, Tiana Jung, Adriano Valentini, and many others for contributing to this article.