USA Green Card - how do all the recent immigrants get jobs?

[PinkFatBunny]

I'm looking at going to work in the States as fancy a change, so have started looking at the options.
It's basically get a company to sponsor you or go down the green card/right to work route. Getting permission to work unless you're a doctor or do something very niche is hard indeed - I do IT coaching and although I could buy a house in the states and support myself IT is pretty common so would be tricky for me.
I was in New York last week and wondered how do all the African taxi drivers (Somali etc not 3rd gen slaves), Russian bar staff and Mexican cleaners get their jobs?
They could get a tourist visa and stay but then you'd never get a social security number to get proper paid employment would they? The family restrictions are pretty strict so having a second cousin won't allow them to legally stay.

If anyone has experience in US immigration for Brits feel free to shout up.

cheers
Adam

[PinkFatBunny]

BertieWooster said:

I recommend you head over to the British Expats forum, specifically the US section here. There is a wealth of information on types of visas, etc.

thanks for that will take a look.