H-1B visa applications require a petitioner (the employer) and beneficiary (employee). The beneficiary must meet a minimum of one of the following requirements: Have completed a bachelor's degree (or higher) in the same field as their specialty occupation from an accredited university.
What companies sponsor H1B?
Companies That Sponsor H1B Visa Holders Infosys. Infosys is the number one ranked company among all visa sponsors. Between 2016 and 2018 they filed 57,685 labor condition applications for H1B visas, and 1893 labor certifications. The top jobs they have sponsored under H1B visas are Technology Lead, Technology Analyst, Consultant, Technology ...
What are the requirements for H1B visa?
H-1B Visa Requirements. H-1B visa applications require a petitioner (the employer) and beneficiary (employee). The beneficiary must meet a minimum of one of the following requirements: Have completed a bachelor's degree (or higher) in the same field as their specialty occupation from an accredited university.
How to find companies that sponsor H1B?
Various Options
- Search H1B Visa Sponsors Database. The simplest way to find a H1B sponsor is to look at the website H1BGrader.com that has H1B Visa Sponsors Database.
- Find H1B Visa Jobs and get job offer. ...
- Internship work – progress to H1B visa. ...
- Find Jobs at American Universities – No Quota for H1B Sponsorship. ...
What are the new H1B rules?
- This rule is likely to be “stayed” by the Biden administration, Congress, or the courts
- The rule will increase required wages for H-1B, H-1B1, E-3 and Green Card applications filed through employment
- The increase in wages will not affect the H-1B lottery this year (March 2021) if the LCA process is completed before July 1, 2021
Can individual can apply for H-1B visa?
Applying for H1-B Visa The individual is not allowed to apply for the H1-B visa, it requires sponsoring from U.S. employer. The H1-B filing period starts from 1st April and the filling period will continue till the quota is met. The H1-B sponsors and employers change every year.
Who Is applicant in H-1B?
The H-1B visa is a temporary or nonimmigrant U.S. visa for foreign nationals seeking temporary entry into the United States for employment in specialty occupations. Applicants are selected for adjudication via lottery and are subject to a cap on the number of visas that will be approved.
Is it difficult to get H-1B visa?
How Difficult Is It To Get an H1B Visa? H1B visa requirements can be difficult to meet because you must first be hired by a U.S. employer who is willing to sponsor you. Competition for jobs in the United States is fierce, and demand for visas to enter the US grows daily.
What is the minimum H-1B salary?
For the $60,000 wage to be determined, the nonimmigrant has to receive an annual salary or hourly wages that in total make at least $60,000, whether the worker has a full-time or part-time job. At the same time, the salary has to be paid “cash in hand” and “free and clear”, as well as paid when due.
Overview
The H-1B program applies to employers seeking to hire nonimmigrant aliens as workers in specialty occupations or as fashion models of distinguished merit and ability. A specialty occupation is one that requires the application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and the attainment of at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.
Key News
On January 15, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (Department) issued an Office of Foreign Labor Certification H-1B Program Bulletin and a Wage and Hour Division Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) revising its interpretation of its regulations concerning which employers of H-1B workers must file Labor Condition Applications.
How Does the H1B Visa Work?
For starters, individuals cannot file for or apply for this type of visa on their own. This must be done by U.S. companies that are sponsoring the people that they want to employ. The government only makes so many of these visas available each year, so they are limited in quantity, and to qualify, people must meet several criteria.
What is an H1B lawyer?
An H1B visa lawyer in Los Angeles will be able to sit down with people and walk them through the process of applying for and obtaining that visa. They may also be able to advise on when someone should be looking for a different type of visa or immigration option if the H1B law doesn’t fit their exact needs or situation.
Who Pays for the Fees?
A common question involved in any visa case is how the filing fees and other costs are paid. It may even be a question of the petitioner as to who should pay for the legal representation. Since the employer is doing the legwork and requesting the visa, the financial responsibility is generally on their shoulders. After all, it is to their benefit that the individual is allowed to work in the U.S. so that they can retain them for their specialty skills.
Can a lawyer handle a visa case?
While some lawyers will claim that they can handle any case, there are some things best left to the experts. Immigration law is one of those areas, which is why you must hire a qualified lawyer that is experienced for the type of visa that you need. For example, you might need an L1 visa lawyer in Los Angeles or someone familiar with TN visa law in Los Angeles. If so, feel free to ask specifically what kind of experience the firm has and how many cases they’ve handled, as well as the outcomes.
Is it easier to get a visa with an immigration lawyer?
With a better understanding of immigration law, the entire process can be easier and less uncertain for employees, employers, and everyone involved in the process. After all, the process is daunting enough without added stress. Those who have an experienced immigration lawyer that understands these visas and knows how to help secure the best chances of approval will enjoy a much easier, less stressful process in getting their visa situation settled.
How much does it cost to get an H1B visa?
Besides the $190 for the H1B application at the embassy additional fees you have to pay for the H1B visa are:
How to Extend the H1B Visa?
The H1B extension procedures are similar to the initial application process. You will need to pay the same fees, except for the Fraud Prevention and Protection Fee. Your employer will also have to follow the same procedures for getting certification from DOL and an approved petition from USCIS. In addition, you will submit these documents:
How Long Can I Stay in the US with an H1B Visa?
The H1B visa is initially valid for 3 years but can extend for another 3 years. In total, a person can stay and work in the US for 6 years at most. However, that does not mean that the person must return to their home country. What makes the H1B visa popular is that it is a dual intent visa.
What is H1B Visa Stamping?
In case you are granted an H1B visa, you need to go on and apply for the H1B visa stamping. This a process on its own, and you should check out the H1B visa stamping article for more details.
How to See My H1B Status Updates?
When your employer submits the H1B visa petition, you will receive a 13-digit receipt number which you can use to check on your H1B status on the USCIS website . The receipt number starts with an “ EAC, WAC, LIN, SRC, NBC, MSC or IOE” and is followed by 10 numbers. Your status could state one of the following:
What Kind of Health Insurance Am I Eligible For?
The type of H1B health insurance you are eligible for depends on how long you will be staying in the United States. As an H1b visa holder you can have:
What is an H1B amendment?
The H1B Amendment requires US employers to file an amended petition in case the employee has any material changes. Material changes are defined as anything that impacts the employee’s eligibility for an H1B visa. The USCIS does not give a list of what qualifies as such a change, but examples include:
What documents are included in a foreign employee's supporting documents?
The foreign employee’s academic qualifications, training certificates, membership documents, resume, and letter of support must also be included as part of supporting documents.
What is the I-129 form?
Once the LCA process has been completed, the employer can proceed to submit the H-1B petition by filing the I-129. Form I-129 is officially known as the Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker. The employer must be sure to include the employment letter with the position’s exact duties, dates of employment, detailed description, salary offered, position requirements, contact information, etc.
What is the H1B visa?
By this visa, companies can hire people who have a university degree for certain professions. Due to this, it is also known as a Person in Specialty Occupation Visa. Therefore, if the applicant has the following characteristics, he/she can apply for this visa:
What are the H1B visa requirements?
This job position requires a specialist who has a university degree or has taken specialized courses in a particular field. Expert people are people with special skills that not many people can do their tasks successfully. Specialists in information technology, physicians, lawyers, accountants, architects, and professors are some of the experts who are eligible to receive the H1B visa.
How to renew the H1B visa?
The same costs must be paid except for the Fraud Prevention and Protection Fee. The employer must go through the previous steps to obtain approval from the United States Department of Labor and the USCIS. The documents required to renew an H1B visa are:
How to access healthcare under this visa?
The type of insurance that an H1B visa holder can choose depends on the length of your stay in the US. The types of insurance that the visa holder can choose are:
How long is a H1B visa valid?
Initially, this visa is valid for three years. It can then be extended for another three years. So in most cases, you can use this visa to stay and work in the US for six years. This visa is a dual visa, meaning that the holder can apply to change the H1B visa status to an immigrant visa. So if you are qualified and have an appropriate job offer, you can apply for an Employment-Based Green Card.
How much does it cost to get an H1B visa?
If you make this appointment earlier, it will be better for you. The application fee for H visa categories is about $ 190. The cost of issuing the visa will depend on the embassy. In this case, you should seek guidance from the embassy where you are applying from.
How many applications does USCIS approve annually?
From October 1st until September 30th, the USCIS approves about 65,000 applications annually.
What is an H1B visa?
The H1B is a special visa that allows foreign nationals to perform specialty occupations in the United States. This work can be in - but is not limited to - any of the following fields:
What is H1B in the US?
The H1B allows foreign nationals to perform specialty occupations in the United States. This allows highly qualified individuals to work and live in the US. This benefits both the beneficiaries and the US economy.
How long can a beneficiary stay in the US?
If there is a change in worksite, a new labor condition application must also be submitted. If the job ends unexpectedly, the beneficiary may stay for up to 60 days or until the visa expires, whichever is shorter. During this time, the beneficiary may attempt to find a new employer to remain in the US but may not work. It is important to note if there are any changes to a beneficiary’s job position or to the US company. Here, an immigration lawyer can help you determine what steps are required to be in compliance with the H1B visa program.
What is employer control in USCIS?
Control is the ability of the petitioner to determine when, where, and how the beneficiary completes his/her duties. USCIS will deny a petition if the beneficiary will not be an employee or report to the petitioner.
How long do you have to work to get an H1B visa?
Begin work in the United States. H-1B beneficiaries may arrive in the United States up to 10 days before the start date of their petition and stay up to 60 days (with some exceptions) after the termination of their H1B status. Upon arrival, you should present your passport, H1B visa, and Form I-797 approval.
What are the benefits of H1B?
One big advantage of H1B visa is the portability benefits. This means that if you are on an H1B and change employers, you can begin working for a different employer upon filing your new petition.
How long before I can apply for a visa can I apply for a visa?
Note that you cannot apply for a visa more than 90 days before the start date of the job . Upon scheduling a consular interview, the foreign national will meet with a US consular officer and show them their I-797 approval.
What is an H1B Visa?
The H1B visa is the authorization given by the US government for a foreign worker to come to the US to work for a US company. Specifically, the foreign worker must work in a field requiring specialized knowledge and therefore is someone who meets the job requirements that the employer was not able to find from a US-based worker.
Who is an example of a fashion model who entered the US through an H1B visa?
Along with specialized workers, the H1B visa also applies to fashion models and Department of Defense cooperative research and development project workers. First Lady Melania Trump is just one example of a fashion model who entered the US through an H1B visa and later became a US citizen.
How long does it take to get a visa in the US?
This normally takes 2 to 3 days, but again varies based on the location.
Why do foreigners work for American companies?
Each year, thousands of foreign workers become employed by American companies that are trying to fill positions that require special knowledge or education . For example, an American architecture company may need a technical writing expert and isn’t able to fill the position with a qualified American worker. Therefore, the company turns to an architectural school in another country for their job search and ends up employing someone from Germany, to include students moving from their F-1 student visas to H1B visas .
When does USCIS randomly pick the number of petitions?
When the number of visa application exceeds the annual visa cap, the USCIS will randomly pick the required number of petitions allotted.
How long do you have to find a new employer to get a green card?
There is a grace period of 60 days to find a new employer or submit your green card application for permanent residency.
Is it cheap to file H1B?
Filing an H1B application isn’t cheap, but fortunately, most of the filing costs are paid for by the employer who sponsors the applicant. Typical H1B processing fees include:
What to Do After Filing H-1B Petition?
If your registration is selected in the lottery, then your employer will need to file a petition, which will move on to the adjudication stage, meaning that it will be processed. An evaluating immigration officer will decide if your H-1B case is approved or denied/rejected. If it is approved, then you will have one of two options:
How long can I stay in the US on an I-140?
This visa is granted for up to three years with the option to extend it to a maximum of six years. There are select cases in which you may be granted a stay longer than six years. This is usually in conjunction with a pending I-140 petition so that you can maintain your status.
What is a labor condition application?
A Labor Condition Application is what your employer must certify and send when filing your petition. A copy of this document is also accepted. Always be mindful of the LCA processing times and plan your documentation accordingly.
When will the USCIS open for 2021?
The registration window will open on March 9, 2021, and end on March 25, 2021. Petitions will still be used, but only once a beneficiary has been selected in the lottery to make things more efficient.
How much does an employer have to pay to enter the lottery?
Employers only need to file the registration fee of $10 to enter the lottery. However, if an alien’s registration is chosen, his or her employer will be responsible for the following fees:
When does USCIS registration open for 2021?
At 12 p.m. EST on March 9. 2021, registration opens, and USCIS account holders can submit their registrations along with the non-refundable $10 registration fee.
What is a cap exempt petition?
A cap-exempt petition is one that was previously counted against the cap.
What is an online USCIS account?
There are three types of USCIS online accounts: Applicant/petitioner/requestor account – Individuals use this type of account to prepare and file applications, petitions or other benefit requests. You cannot use this account type to prepare or submit H-1B registrations.
How many registrations can a prospective petitioner have?
A prospective petitioner may only have one registration submitted per beneficiary per fiscal year. Once the initial registration period has closed, if the prospective petitioner has more than one registration submitted for the same beneficiary, we will remove all registrations submitted for that beneficiary by that prospective petitioner from the selection process. This does not prevent other prospective petitioners or their representatives from submitting registrations for that same beneficiary, but they too need to ensure that each prospective petitioner only has one registration submitted for the beneficiary.
How does electronic registration help employers?
The electronic registration process has streamlined processing by reducing paperwork and data exchange, and has provided overall cost savings to employers seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions.
Do I need to file a G-28 with an I-129?
A: Yes. The attorney, however, would need to file a G-28 with the Form I-129 H -1B petition to authorize their representation . Note that even if the attorney submitted a G-28 to represent a client for the registration process, they would still need to submit a new G-28 with the I-129 petition. Q.
Can a beneficiary have only one name?
A: If there is only one name for a beneficiary, it should be entered as the last name. The first and middle name fields will have check boxes that indicate “Beneficiary does not have a first name” or “Beneficiary does not have a middle name.” These boxes should be checked in these instances. Do not enter placeholders, such as “FNU”, “LNU”, “Unknown”, or “No Name Given.”
Can a representative and a registrant register the same beneficiary?
A: The system will not prevent a representative and a registrant from both registering the same beneficiary. The representative and the registrant are responsible for ensuring that duplicate registrations are not submitted.
Overview
- The H-1B program applies to employers seeking to hire nonimmigrant aliens as workers in specialty occupations or as fashion models of distinguished merit and ability. A specialty occupation is one that requires the application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and the attainment of at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. The intent ...
Key News
- On January 15, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (Department) issued an Office of Foreign Labor Certification H-1B Program Bulletin and a Wage and Hour Division Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) revising its interpretation of its regulations concerning which employers of H-1B workers must file Labor Condition Applications. The Department simultaneously submitted a Notice for p…
General Guidance
- Field Assistance Bulletin 2019-3: Compliance with the H-1B Notice Requirement by Electronic Posting(PDF)
- Employment Law Guide: Workers in Professional and Specialty Occupations (H-1B and H-1B1 Visas)
- Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Prevailing Wage Determinations for Nonagricultural Programs
- Wages under Foreign Labor Certification
Forms
Disqualified and Willful Violator Employers
- DOL maintains a list of individuals or corporations who, as a result of an H-1B investigation/final agency action, have been disqualified from approval of petitions to participate in the nonimmigra...
Nonimmigrant Worker Related Agency Links