H1B Sponsors

H1B visa Sponsors

2010-01-18T09:55:00.000-08:00

H1B - This is a work visa similar to the E3 visa accept it is for all countries around the world with a fixed annual quota. It is very competitive to get given so many apply and there are greater costs associated with it as well as spouses not being able to work. However it is much easier for these visa holders to switch over and apply for a green card.
H2B - This is a visa designed for a work in more manual labor orientated situations where a bachelors or college degree is not required. It can be a great to work in the US temporarily but more often than not you may be in amusement parts or manufacturing/construction outside major cities but there are many exceptions.
E3 - This work visa is designed for Australian citizens only to work for a period of two years at a time and can rollover for further two increments indefinitely if the company agrees to continue to sponsor you and the consulate/embassy issues you a new visa. The benefits of this visa versus others are its own annual via quota numbers, the ability for a spouse to work and the lower cost/simple paperwork
J1 - This visa is actually used in a variety of areas but the main areas are for the Work and Travel program (for students currently at higher education institution) allowing people to work in their summer holidays. It is also for Internships and some government sponsored high school exchange programs
F1 - This is a student visa mainly used by college and graduate students. Compared to most student visas it is much more restrictive about allowing part time work with your studies. The most annoying thing for International students is passing all the initial requirements for enough capital to support yourself which is excessive.

The H1B visa filing day of April 1, 2009, for the H1B visa fiscal year 2010 (October 1, 2009, start date) is quickly approaching and many people are attempting to predict how quickly the cap will be filled up. The obvious issue at play in making this year more difficult to predict than in prior years, is the economic situation in the United States.
The economic situation in the United States has caused a significant downturn in employment, which in turn impacts the available options for foreign nationals who are seeking to secure an H1B visa with a willing and able petitioning employer. In addition, the financial services' companies have been hit hard not just from a financial standpoint, but also from a hiring standpoint as it relates to their ability to hire H1B candidates. As a result of the stimulus bill, financial institutions who have received bailout funds have been subject to hiring limitations in connection with H1B workers. More specifically , the bill subjects the financial institutions who are the recipients of bailout funds to the rules of being a dependent H1B employer, which means that before hiring a foreign H1B worker they must determine that a U.S. worker is not available for the job. This has essentially barred financial institutions from hiring H1B workers. In fact, the recent changes made it necessary for Bank of America to rescind job offers made to prospective H1B workers. Other financial services companies may also have to follow suit.
Taking the above into consideration, many immigration practitioners are seeing a sharp decline in the interest in the H1B visa this year by potential employers and workers. Some are saying that the downturn in H1B applications this year could be as much as 50%-80%, while others see only a 30% decline. As a result of this decline, there are predictions that the quota will not be reached within the first few days of April this year. Rather, many suspect that the bachelor's quota won't be reached until the middle of April and that the master's quota won't be reached until late April.
From an immigration practitioner's point of view this is obviously disappointing, as it translates to less work. From a foreign worker's perspective who has an H1B position lined up, this presents somewhat of an opportunity that hopefully his or her odds of obtaining the H1B visa will be better this year compared to last year. From a foreign worker's perspective who doesn't yet have a position lined up, you may have a bit more time to find a job than in prior years. However, this extra time is not a sure thing and may only amount to a week or two.

H1B Visa Lawyer How to Pick One

2010-01-18T09:40:00.001-08:00

With 85,000 new H1B visas provided each year by USCIS and thousands of other individuals in H1B status or subject to the H1B cap, there are easily hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of searches for a suitable H1B visa lawyer by individuals and employers throughout the U.S. and the world on a yearly basis.

It can be difficult to make a decision as to which H1B visa lawyer might be most suitable for you, in light of all of the options available. The purpose of this article is to give employers and potential H1B visa beneficiaries some tips on a few of the items that they should look for when seeking the services of an H1B visa lawyer.

Good Standing of a State Bar - It is important to make sure that any lawyer you are considering has been admitted to and is in good standing with a state bar in the U.S. Since U.S. immigration law is controlled by federal law, a lawyer can represent a client in connection with an H1B visa application anywhere in the U.S. as long as the lawyer is admitted to and in good standing of a state bar.

AILA member - H1B visa law and immigration law in general is highly complicated. It is important for any lawyer you're considering to be knowledgeable on immigration law and to keep up with immigration laws and trends. Unless the individual is a member of AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association), this is practically impossible. Being an AILA member typically suggests that the lawyer devotes all or a large part of his/her practice to immigration law.

H1B Visa Experience - Not all immigration lawyers are well-versed in the H1B Visa laws. Some immigration lawyers focus exclusively on family immigration, while other lawyers may focus the majority of their practice on removal and asylum. You should discuss with any potential lawyer whether or not he/she is experienced with the H1B process.

Open communication & general comfort level - Make sure that you are comfortable with the prospective lawyer. The lawyer should be addressing your preliminary questions and should give you a sense of the strength of your case. Also, you should try and get a sense as to what level of communication you will receive from the lawyer throughout the process. Some lawyers provide a high level of communication, while others do not.

Legal Fees -Before committing with a lawyer, you should confirm the legal fees involved with the H1B process and whether fees are charged on an hourly basis or a flat fee basis. It should be noted that shopping for immigration law services is not like shopping for a car or looking for the lowest price on toothpaste or other toiletries. No two firms or lawyers will provide the same level of service or application preparation. Fees can vary based on the level of service provided and the amount of time the lawyer puts into the application. Some lawyers have a huge team of legal assistants that prepare 95% of the applications, while other lawyers don't delegate any of the H1B application preparation to a legal assistant. Some lawyers are easily accessible to answer questions and provide advice throughout the process, while others are almost impossible to get a hold of. There is a great deal of risk by focusing only on fees and not taking the other suggestions into account when making a decision.

How to Support H-1B Visa Immigration

2010-01-13T07:41:00.000-08:00

The H-1B Visa lottery allows foreign nationals to immigrate to the United States, guaranteed employment when they get here. The lottery provides positions to 65,000 applicants, in addition to another 20,000 who hold Master's Degrees. Here's how to support H-IB Visa Immigration:

Step 1
Know that businesses hire based on skills, and certain immigrants are simply more qualified than their American counterparts. Many companies sponsor H-1Bs yearly regardless of the state of the economy. Severe backlash has come from people who believe that Americans, at least during the recession, should have priority over immigrants in the workplace (discrimination).
Step 2
Learn the other side of the argument. Some might oppose Step #1 by claiming that, because they earn less, employers favor immigrants - and that's why Americans are losing jobs to them. This argument has some truth to it; H-1Bs often get raises and promotion once they acquire their green cards, but there are many reasons to keep offering employment to H-1Bs.
Step 3
Think of how it benefits them. Many foreign nationals were educated in the United States. For those who weren't, using the H-1B process is one of the easiest ways to immigrate here; to live and work in America. Foreigners who try to attain green cards have to deal with serious competition and years-long delays. Hard-working H-1Bs can get past those barriers easily.
Step 4
Consider how great minds are an asset to America, even if they don't belong to citizens. Nearly 50% of all U.S. scientists and engineers with Doctorate Degrees are immigrants. These innovative minds are one of many keys to solving the economic crisis. If a first-world country is going to benefit from the skills of foreign nationals, why not let it be the United States?

How to Apply for an H-1B Visa

2010-01-13T07:37:00.000-08:00

Step 1

You must have a qualified bachelor's degree or higher in the chosen field, or a combination of education and experience equivalent to such a degree, to qualify for a specialty occupation. You also must obtain any relevant state or federal licenses.

Step 2

An employer recruiting H1-B employees makes a job offer. Before making the offer, the employer must make a good faith effort to fill the opening from inside the U.S., file a Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor and make a determination of the prevailing wage for the specialty occupation.

Step 3

Once a job offer has been extended, the sponsoring employer files an H1-B visa application on your behalf. You will need to provide all requested documentation regarding education, experience and background. The company will have to pay a series of fees generally totaling more than $1,500, and the process will take about three to six months. A premium fee of $1,000 can be paid to guarantee an expedited response to the petition. While any U.S. employer with a tax number can sponsor an H-1B petition, institutions of higher education and other non-profit organizations are exempt from certain fees.

Step 4

The immigration bureau will review the application and make a determination. If the application is approved, you can go to the U.S. Embassy in your country and receive your visa. If you already are in the U.S. under a different immigration status, you may begin working for the sponsoring employer. If you have a spouse and children under the age of 21, they are eligible for H-4 visas.

Step 5

An H1-B visa initially is for a period of three years, but can be extended for another three years. If you intend to remain in the U.S., you can apply for permanent residence during the six year period. If you do not receive permanent residence, you must live outside the U.S. for one year before re-applying under an H visa.