H-1B Visa : an employers' guide

The H1B is the most sought after US visa and the Immigration Bureau requires 'every' foreign national to obtain a visa in order to legally work in America.

An H1-B applicant must have a degree from a four-year college or 10 years of work experience in fields related to the work she/he will be performing in the U.S. The position must directly be related to the degree or experience.

Each year, the INS sets up a quota for issuing the H1-B. The quota period starts October 1st and ends at September 30th of the following year. If you apply for an H1-B visa after the quota has run out, your application will not be processed until the next October, when the INS resumes issuing another year's H1-B visas. If you are included in the current year's quota, usually you will get your H1-B visa in three or four months.

If the INS approves the H1-B application the employee will be authorized to work with the sponsoring company for three years. She/He may renew for another three years. The total time limit is six years, after which the employee must leave the country or change her/his visa status.

Please contact our office at (213) 385 2829 to speak to one of our consultant and receive more information about the H1B visa and the application process.