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September, 2024

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US Ski Season as a UK Citizen

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CornerPetri
Posts: 12 - Karma: 63
Merry Christmas!

I'm very keen on doing a season in California, ideally at a big, internationally famous resort like Palisades. Was hoping for advice from anyone who has done this before. Do they commonly hire international workers? I can see a lot advertise the possibility of a J1 or H2B visa job, I just don't want to get my hopes up if it transpires they're a rarity. I'm not a skilled worker per se, but I do have a lot of industry experience as a tour operator and concierge, and would be happy to do an instructor qualification prior to 24/25 season if this would be necessary to get a visa. I've also held a J1 before as a university student, not sure if that effects anything?

Hope this doesn't sound rude/beggars being choosers, but I'm not interested in Canada and I understand the process there well enough. More than happy to hear info on seasons/resorts elsewhere in America (Utah/Montana/Colorado/Alaska/Oregan more than out East) though, the main thing I'm hesitant on is the visa process - everyone I know who does seasons seems to have done so in Japan, France, New Zealand, Australia, or Canada, you never seem to see people having done them in America!

I've done a fair few seasons already in France and Japan, so I'm aware that pay is dire, living space is tight etc. Would appreciate any tips specific to California though, or if seasons there are substantially different to living somewhere like Niseko or Tignes or even Burlington, VT.

TiA!
Dec 26 2023 10:35AM
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fabbe
Posts: 802 - Karma: 52
My grandma is from the UK
Dec 26 2023 11:25AM
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partyandBS
Posts: 4150 - Karma: 63,774
i didn’t read all that lol. the best thing you can do is find the resorts you want to work at and hit up their recruiting team to see what options they have for you. J1s go through a sponsorship and seem to be interns 3 months i think. H2Bs are typically long term employees in year round roles like housekeeping. might just be a work visa.

you could also marry a heffer from alabama all you gotta do is say your a long lost cousin and they will be down!
Dec 26 2023 2:57PM
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quintcork
Posts: 255 - Karma: 1,418
fabbeMy grandma is from the UK

My sister lives there...
Dec 26 2023 3:31PM
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Jacobthesadskier
Posts: 488 - Karma: 4,795
fabbeMy grandma is from the UK


So's mine, though it's a bit less remarkable considering I live there.
Dec 26 2023 5:59PM
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Thegenericskier
Posts: 2500 - Karma: 28,046
partyandBSi didn’t read all that lol. the best thing you can do is find the resorts you want to work at and hit up their recruiting team to see what options they have for you. J1s go through a sponsorship and seem to be interns 3 months i think. H2Bs are typically long term employees in year round roles like housekeeping. might just be a work visa.

you could also marry a heffer from alabama all you gotta do is say your a long lost cousin and they will be down!


how could an englishman be a long lost cousin of someone from alabama where everyone's family tree consists of a log of incest??
Dec 26 2023 6:23PM
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-eREKTion-
Posts: 1572 - Karma: 10,469
Anecdotally, I worked at Mammoth and we hired a lot of people on J1 visas. If I remember correctly, we would do our J1 hiring in September-ish to make sure there was enough time to get the visas in before ski season started. Reach out to some places, I’m sure you can find something.
Dec 26 2023 7:07PM
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CornerPetri
Posts: 12 - Karma: 63
-eREKTion-Anecdotally, I worked at Mammoth and we hired a lot of people on J1 visas. If I remember correctly, we would do our J1 hiring in September-ish to make sure there was enough time to get the visas in before ski season started. Reach out to some places, I’m sure you can find something.


Many thanks for the info bro! How did you like Mammoth?
Dec 26 2023 9:27PM
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PeppermillReno
Posts: 4781 - Karma: -622
I knew some Brit’s who did seasons at Palisades shouldn’t be too hard just go on their website.
Dec 26 2023 11:51PM
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Lonely
Posts: 6703 - Karma: 61,022
Michigan has the number 1 rated resort in the country so I would recommend starting there
Dec 27 2023 10:32AM
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 6889 - Karma: 59,904
There are programs such as EA for the very exact reason you’re stating. Usually the visa they use is the j1 visa. I have friends who went through EA at Northstar in Tahoe.

A quick look at EA’s website and they have palisade.

https://easkiandsnowboard.com/resort/palisades-tahoe
Dec 27 2023 10:33AM
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