They are: your skills and legal restrictions (see competitive disadvantages for more detail). Skills because you probably communicate less effectively than your American peers, and will probably have more trouble fitting in the workplace. Legal restrictions simply mean you cannot work in the US without going first through a somehow long, complicated and costly process (which spells risk for the hiring company).

If you take away only one thing from this guide, this should be it: if you convince an employer you have the skills, and you are the ideal candidate, you will get the job – they will take care of the legal part. Most companies, especially in these times, are looking for the best people they can find and will not stop because of a relative little issue. So start worrying about your skills, and leave the legal considerations for later.