At the seminar "US technical workforce demand 2026 - why do Vietnamese skills have an opportunity?", speakers stated that years of experience are only one part of evaluating workers. More importantly, candidates must demonstrate what tasks they have performed, how they can prove their experience, and the suitability of their actual abilities to the job requirements.

The seminar was part of the launch event for ESTA - EB-3 Skilled Trade America, organized by Newland USA. It featured experts in immigration, recruitment, and technical fields, including Jack Runkle, a former US consular officer, who directly engaged in discussions and Q&A with guests.

Speakers discussed job requirements and factors Vietnamese workers need to prepare when exploring US employment opportunities. Photo: Newland USA

A key discussion point was the gap between "having many years of experience" and the ability to demonstrate professional competence. For technical roles, experience portfolios should clearly detail work duration, actual tasks, types of equipment or tools used, training processes, and relevant documents. Job titles alone are not the sole factor in determining suitability.

ESTA is not a new US government visa program. It is a model developed by Newland USA to connect recruitment needs, professional standards, candidate assessment, and the application process under the current regulations of the EB-3 Skilled Workers program (US immigration under the EB-3 skilled worker category).

Initially, ESTA focuses on two occupational groups: automotive repair technicians and industrial maintenance technicians. These roles are highly practical, requiring diagnostic, problem-solving, and procedural compliance skills. According to a Newland USA representative, candidate assessment should therefore begin with the actual work performed by the individual, rather than solely relying on years of experience or academic qualifications.

Speakers also advised workers to view international career opportunities as a long-term journey, rather than focusing solely on salary or a specific job title. Beyond skill suitability, candidates need to prepare their communication abilities, adaptability to a new work environment, financial plans, and family consensus.

For employment-based immigration applications, the process depends on multiple review stages and various legal conditions. Therefore, timelines, visa outcomes, or future employment status cannot be absolutely guaranteed.

The Newland USA team at the ESTA launch event on 17/10 in TP HCM. Photo: Newland USA

In addition to the seminar, attendees had the opportunity to learn about the requirements for the two occupational groups, the EB-3 Skilled Workers process (US immigration under the EB-3 skilled worker category), and participate in a live Q&A session.

Chau Tam Luan, Founder and CEO of Newland USA, stated that the event's greatest value was not in the number of people interested in one job opportunity, but in workers beginning to view their skills as an asset that can continue to develop.

"We hope that after the event, each participant will better understand what they possess, what they lack, and how to prepare if they wish to take their skills further", Luan said. "ESTA does not begin with a promise of going to the US, but with the worker's true capabilities and a pathway aligned with those capabilities."

A Newland USA representative explained that ESTA was developed to connect recruitment needs, professional standards, candidate assessment, and the EB-3 Skilled Workers pathway. ESTA is not a separate US government visa program and does not replace the legal conditions applicable to individual applications.

(Source: Newland USA)

Readers interested in the ESTA program can contact Newland USA here, or via hotline 078 559 1988 or email info@newlandusa.asia for detailed information.