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H-1B Visa

What are the main requirements for an H-1B visa?

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The main requirements for an H-1B visa are:

  1. The job must be either in a "specialty occupation", i.e., a professional field, or as a fashion model.
    • a "specialty occupation" is one which requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge to fully perform the occupation and requires completion of a specific course of education culminating in a baccalaureate degree in a specific occupational specialty, e.g., architects, teachers, engineers, scientists, etc.
    • fashion models, on the other hand, do not have to meet the specialty occupation requirements; instead, they must establish that they possess "distinguished merit and ability," e.g., national or international renown, etc.
  2. The applicant must actually have the necessary credentials, e.g., the baccalaureate degree in the particular specialty.
    • If a license is required to practice the particular occupation, then the applicant must possess the necessary license.

Prepare to File Your H1B Visa NOW

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The H-1B quota cap for 2010 (i.e., for employment starting October 1, 2010) was reached on or about December 21, 2009. 

#10: You are a Citizen of Australia

If you are a Citizen of Australia, you may be able to qualify for the E-3 visa which is a kind of special "Australian H-1B". Under current law, 10,500 E-3s are set aside each year for nationals of Australia.

#9: You are a Citizen of Chile

If you are a Citizen of Chile, you may be able to qualify for the H-1B1 visa which is a kind of special "Chilean H-1B". Under current law, 1,400 H-1B1s are set aside each year for nationals of Chile, under the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement. INA 214(g)(8)(A)(ii).

#8: You are a Citizen of Singapore

If you are a Citizen of Singapore, you may be able to qualify for the H-1B1 visa which is a kind of special "Singaporean H-1B". Under current law, 5,400 H-1B1s are set aside each year for nationals of Singapore, under the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. INA 214(g)(8)(A)(i).

#7: You have a U.S. MASTER'S DEGREE (until the 20,000 Master's quota runs out)

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Under current law, a special exemption exists for holders of U.S. Master's degrees. Specifically, the law allocates an additional 20,000 H-1Bs for holders of U.S. Master's degrees. This means that holders of U.S. Masters degrees are first counted against the quota of 20,000, and then after that quota runs out, they are counted against the regular quota.

#6: You were previously COUNTED under the H-1B quota

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If you were previously COUNTED under the H-1B quota, you are exempt from the quota for your next employment, or for any concurrent employment.

#5: Your Employer is a Nonprofit Research Organization or Government Research Organization

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If your Employer is a Nonprofit Research Organization or Government Research Organization, then your H-1B petition is exempt from the H-1B quota.

#4: Your Employer is an "Institution of Higher Education", e.g., a College or University

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An "Institution of Higher Education", e.g., a College or University, is exempt from the H-1B quota, under current law. An "Institution of Higher Education" is generally a U.S. College or University (as defined in the Higher Education Act of 1965, section 101 (a), 20 U.S.C. section 1001(a)).

#3: Your Employment is CONCURRENT with exempt employment

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If you are employed by an H-1B quota exempt employer under H-1B status, the USCIS has interpreted the regulations to permit you to obtain CONCURRENT employment, e.g., a part time position, with a non-quota exempt H-1B employer, provided that you maintain your employment with the original H-1B exempt employer.

#2: Your Employer is a Non-Profit Organization AFFILIATED or RELATED to an Institution of Higher Education

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If your employer is a Non-Profit Organization which is AFFILIATED or RELATED to an Institution of Higher Education, then your H-1B petition may be deemed exempt from the quota, under the applicable regulations. An "Institution of Higher Education" is generally a U.S. College or University (as defined in the Higher Education Act of 1965, section 101 (a), 20 U.S.C. section 1001(a)).

#1: Your Employer is NOT H-1B quota exempt, BUT, your Employment is "AT" an H-1B Exempt Institution (a “third party petitioner")

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The USCIS has interpreted the regulations to deem an H-1B nonimmigrant "quota exempt" who works "at" a quota exempt institution, even if he or she works for a non-exempt employer, under certain circumstances, as discussed in this article.

10 Ways to Beat H-1B Quota to Start Work NOW!

This year the H-1B quota ran out on the very first day! In fact, there was such a deluge of H-1B applications that the USCIS was forced to run a lottery to decide who among the applicants would receive a coveted H-1B visa. As a result, many applicants who applied on the very first day were unable to get an H-1B visa. Therefore, if you want to have a chance of obtaining an H-1B visa, your best bet is to qualify under one of the quota exemptions listed below. Best of all, if you qualify for an H-1B exemption, you can proceed with your H-1B petition immediately, to start work now (either immediately upon approval of the H-1B petition or upon receipt of the petition if you qualify for portability), without having to wait for the next fiscal year!

USCIS Memo on H/Ls Traveling on Advance Parole

The INS, the predecessor to the USCIS, published a Memo which discusses important issues regarding the travel of H-1B and L nonimmigrants who have been granted Advance Parole.

California Service Center confirms H-1 and H-4 who enter in Advance Parole can apply for extensions

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The California Service Center has confirmed that H-1 and H-4 nonimmigrant who were granted Advance Parole, left the U.S., and re-entered pursuant to a grant of Advance Parole may apply for an extension of the H-1 or H-4 status (provided there is an approved petition).

USCIS Announces H-1B Cap REACHED

The USCIS has announced that the H-1B cap for regular cases was reached on April 2, 2007, i.e., the first day that the filing was permitted.  This means that petitions for regular cases will go into a random selection lottery.  The USCIS does not yet know whether the Master's cap was reached or not.  The USCIS notice appears below, and as an attached PDF file.

For Fiscal 2008: H1B CAP REACHED on April 2, 2007 for H-1B regular petitions, according to USCIS

The USCIS has announced that the H-1B cap for regular cases was reached on April 2, 2007, i.e., the first day that the filing was permitted. This means that petitions for regular cases will go into a random selection lottery. The USCIS does not yet know whether the Master's cap was reached or not. The USCIS notice appears below, and as an attached PDF file.

USCIS New Policy: Time spent in H-4 and L-2 does NOT count against H-1B and L-1 Time Limit

The USCIS has announced that after completing a policy review that it was clarifying that “any time spent in H-4 status will not count against the six-year maximum period of admission applicable to H-1B aliens.”  Likewise, the USCIS also announced that “time an alien has spent time in L-2 dependent status will not count against the time available to the alien in L-1A or L-1B status.”  The new policy was announced in a USCIS Interoffice Memorandum from Michael Aytes, Associate Director, Domestic Operations, to all Regional Directors and Service Center Directors, dated December 5, 2006.  

H-1B holders, outside of U.S. for one year, who did not exhaust 6 year term, can opt to use remainder of 6 years to avoid cap.

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The USCIS has announced that after completing a policy review that it was clarifying that to avoid H-1B QUOTA, individuals who spent one year outside of U.S. and did not exhaust entire six year term can CHOOSE to be re-admitted for “remainder” of initial six-year period without being subject to H-1B cap.  The new policy was announced in a USCIS Interoffice Memorandum from Michael Aytes, Associate Director, Domestic Operations, to all Regional Directors and Service Center Directors, dated December 5, 2006. 

USCIS New Policy: Individuals eligible for 7th Year H-1B Extension are NOT required to be in the U.S., or in H-1B status.

The USCIS has announced that after completing a policy review that it was clarifying that “Aliens who are eligible for the 7th year extension may be granted an extension of stay regardless of whether they are currently in the United States or abroad and regardless of whether they currently hold H-1B status.”  The 7th year H-1B extension is available for individuals with Labor Certification (PERM, traditional, or RIR) applications or I-40 petitions pending for more than one year, and for individuals who have approved I-140 petitions, under the terms of AC21.  The new policy was announced in a USCIS Interoffice Memorandum from Michael Aytes, Associate Director, Domestic Operations, to all Regional Directors and Service Center Directors, dated December 5, 2006. 

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Search for H1B Visa Employers

You can search for "H1B Visa Employers" using this database, which was compiled by Antao & Chuang, Attorneys at Law from government sources. This database identifies those U.S. employers who have filed for H-1B visas in the past, or who have at least started the process by filing for the LCA. If you find an employer you are interested in, you can then contact them to inquire as to whether they have any current job openings in your field. Please tell your friends about this valuable resource.

Use this form to search for H1B Visa employers.

"FMG Friendly" Employers

Foreign Medical Graduates ("FMGs") should be aware that there are "FMG Friendly" employers, and "FMG Unfriendly" employers. This database (compiled by Antao & Chuang, Attorneys at Law from government sources) identifies those U.S. employers who have filed for H-1B visas for foreign medical graduates in the past (or at least started the process by filing for the LCA), and who can therefore be deemed "FMG Friendly". Please tell your colleagues about this valuable resource.

Use this form to search for "FMG Friendly" employers in a given state.

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