Getting your dream job as a senior developer at a US company can become a reality. At Nexton, we specialize in connecting top engineers from Latin America with the most rewarding remote contractor jobs at the best North American start-ups.
US companies are embracing remote work. For developers and engineers in Latin America, this means that your geographic location no longer limits where and for whom you work. Whether you’re based in Buenos Aires or Mendoza, now you have the opportunity to take on exciting senior software engineering jobs as a remote contractor at the best American companies.
The regulatory processes behind working as a remote contractor in Argentina for a US company can seem daunting. In this article, we’ll teach you all there is to know about the regulations you might be subject to when working for a US company.
What type of contract will I have?
What does being a remote contractor mean? A remote contractor is a person that works for a company based in a different location and is not subject to that company's control.
Since the company will not be based in Argentina, you would be working as a service provider, but do not worry as this is just the legal name for remote software developer team members.
When it comes to Nexton’s role in this process, it is the US company that will hire you directly. Our recruiting team at Nexton handles the selection and offer process but isn’t directly involved in the contractual process. However, we are available and able to guide you through any questions you may have about the job offer.
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Will I need to pay US taxes?
No! As a remote contractor, you won't be subject to paying taxes in the US, opposite to a remote employee contract. It will be your own responsibility reporting self-employment taxes in Argentina.
You will have to fill out Form W-8BEN. With this form, you will self-certify that you are not a US citizen. The hiring company will rely on these claims to determine tax obligations.
Visa Requirements: Do I need a visa to work as a remote contractor for a US company?
Many of the Argentine developers we work with worry about the visa requirements. Luckily, since these positions are remote, you don’t need a work permit from the US government.
For many, this comes as a great relief. Applying for a work visa in the US is a tedious process, and the chances of your application being approved are slim, seeing that the US government only issues a maximum of 140,000 work visas per year. America's employment laws are also very strict and can be difficult to understand, especially for foreigners.
As a remote contractor, you don’t need to worry about these limitations, as you won’t be physically working inside of the US. As a remote developer contractor, you work for US companies without actually entering American territories, which exempts you from many of the bureaucratic requirements that foreigners physically working in the US are subject to.
How can I get paid as a remote contractor/engineer working for a US company?
Another major concern for Argentine remote contractors working for companies in the US is how to receive their payments. Receiving regular international payments can quickly become expensive, as international transfer fees, currency exchange fees, and other banking stipends can quickly add up.
Luckily, as the number of people working remotely increases, so does the number of platforms designed to simplify the process of sending and receiving international payments. At Nexton, we’ve found some of the following payment platforms to be the most popular and best suited to remote contractors from Argentina:
- Payoneer. Payoneer is an online payments platform that lets remote contractors create virtual local currency accounts in the US, Europe, Australia, Canada, and many other countries. Getting paid is as simple as sharing your account details with the company you work for or sending them a “Payment Request” that can be paid with any major credit card.
- Paypal. Paypal is one of the biggest names in online payments and has long been a favorite among remote contractors all over the globe. It makes sending and receiving international payments super easy.
- Skrill. Skrill is less popular than Paypal and Payoneer, but no less useful in sending/receiving money across the globe. Moreover, Skrill is very user-friendly in that it works well with other payment platforms (such as Payoneer, for example) which can come in handy for remote contractors using more than one payment method.
- Wise (previously Transferwise). Wise is a very popular platform among remote contractors from Argentina, as it offers low transfer fees and great exchange rates (far higher than those of the other platforms listed here).
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The remote work community
There is a huge Argentinian dev community working for companies abroad. According to data from iProUP, there are approximately 1.2 million Argentines who are remote workers and provide their services to companies abroad.
Let Nexton guide you in finding the best remote contract jobs at US companies
At Nexton, we specialize in helping senior and semi-senior software engineers find great jobs at US firms under remote working contracts. We guide all of our candidates through the entire hiring process, up until they receive an offer from a company.
Our team of recruiters has a solid understanding of the particular needs and concerns of remote contractors from across Latin America and helps each candidate find their ideal position.
You can learn more about our services and start growing your career by clicking here. Also, make sure to check out our blog for more advice and resources on working as a remote contractor and developer for the best US companies.
