H-1B Visa For Graduates and Skilled Professionals
H1-B Visa Success - To Chris, Viv. Eva & staff, - Thank you so much for all your support and excellent work in getting my work visa for the USA. I am sooo impressed, 15 weeks from job offer to having my visa in my hand, that's amazing. Thank you also for the 'human touch' addressing all my concerns and worries along the way, you have all been so understanding. I will most definitely use you guys again (as soon as I get there we have to start on getting my daughter organized). I look forward to meeting you all in person.Much appreciation
– Welcome
– Business Investors – E2 Visa
– Professionals & Academics
– Graduate Visas – H-1B Visa
– Fiancee and Marriage
– Immigration Reform
The H-1B visa is for applicants who either had a BA degree or have 12 years experience culminating in a job that would normally require one with a degree to do. There are 65,000 of these visas issued each year starting April 1st and they are issued on a first come first served basis. In most recent years these H-1B visas would be all gone within the first few days of April when the economy was at its height however since the recession that really kicked in September 2008 the H-1B visas have not been in such high demand and as a result it is likely that we’ll see H-1B visas available until early 2011, there has not been H-1B visas available that late for many years.
Finding a job in the US is very difficult when applying from abroad. Many local US employers are fearful or reticent to get involved in the red tape and expense of trying to secure a visa for a stranger. In my experience employers a far more willing to sponsor an alien if they have at least met them in person and built up some kind of rapport with them. Often time employers and employees discuss the cost and how these costs, which are very substantial, can be defrayed against a salary modification. Currently typical attorney fees and filing fees for the H-1B can top $6,000. Hiring an American would not cause the US employer to incur any additional costs. Aliens therefore have to be prepared to negotiate and bargain their way into a job where the employer will be willing work accommodate them.
US Immigration is also taking an increasingly hard look at each H-1B application to make sure that the alien does indeed have the right set of qualifications or experience and that the employer can afford to pay the alien the prevailing wage. In times past USCIS was less diligent and many undeserving cases would get through, today and in this economy every case has to be perfectly prepared to ensure a good outcome.
If you’re keen to come to come to the US on a H-1B visa start with making some trips over to the US to begin building your network. A good way to build such a network is to consider coming over to US for a year to study at a college. Starting with the student F1 visa will buy you that year in the US where you can study and familiarize yourself with the culture, attend job fairs and join networking groups. More aliens, by far will find a H-1B employer than they ever could sending out endless C.Vs.
Once you get a H-1B visa you can stay in the US a maximum of 6 years in the US, this is typically more than enough time to get your EB2 green card or EB3 green card. I do my best to encourage my clients to start working on getting their green card as son as they arrive on their H-1B because although a H-1B visa is portable from job to job, its really important to go for a green card as these can take several years to be processed.
- US Immigration Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram
US Immigration Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram
Chris M. Ingram LL.M., ESQ – Admitted in New York
Practice Specializing in US Immigration Law
520 Broadway, Suite 350,
Santa Monica, California 90401
Tel: 310 492 4292
Everyday the Law Offices of Chris M. Ingram provides a comprehensive range of US Immigration expertise. We also provide a free consultation for our prospective clients.
Copyright 2010