VISA2US Blog

Recent proposed changes to the traditional H-1B visa program have entrepreneurs sitting up and taking notes. Now, those looking to work for themselves could technically be sponsored by their company, changing the definition of “US employer” and streamlining the process of obtaining an H-1B visa. Customarily, H-1B visas are only available through a job sponsor, but now, if the proposal goes through, a beneficiary may own a controlling interest in their sponsor’s company. This suggested change has the potential to make a substantial impact on those who have waited for a visa for years. How would the new H-1B rules make it easier for entrepreneurs? We have the details here.

Finding a job you’ll be satisfied with takes on a new meaning when you’re a foreign worker heading to a new country. While getting the job offer is important, how do you know if you’ll want to stay at that place of employment for the length of your work visa? However, once you sign the terms and conditions of a visa like an H-1B, you’re tied to that particular job sponsor unless you transfer your visa to another company willing to become your new sponsor. The key is to do your research and only accept a job with a company that has a solid reputation for high employee satisfaction. Here, we’ll discuss some of the top companies in the US known for employer awareness of wellbeing.

The OPT program was designed to allow international students to work while in the US receiving a secondary education or for up to one year after graduation. Earlier changes to the program allow STEM students an optional 36-month extension. Opponents of this adaptation claim that it permits tech companies to bypass the typical H-1B work visa program, a notoriously challenging system with a limited annual quota of visas available. However, legal challenges to the OPT extension case have yet to be successful, and the last attempt at the Supreme Court level was also blocked when the Court refused to take the case. This decision to leave the OPT extension as it currently is reflects the importance of the STEM industry globally but impacts the H-1B program in general. Keep reading to learn more.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is at the forefront of nearly every global industry. Some businesses use it to streamline their practices, making them more efficient and saving money. Others see the potential of AI as a way to shift their goals and blaze new paths. In the world of immigration, technology has begun revolutionizing the system, changing regulations, easing restrictions, and speeding up a notoriously lengthy process. What’s new on the horizon with AI and immigration? Read on to find out.

Followers of the US immigration system have seen the headlines demanding change across the board, particularly in the H-1B employment-based visa category. Reformation is necessary to address the border security, substantial backlog in Green Cards, and imbalance in the number of H-1B allotted visas versus the demand. According to many proponents, one potential solution is the move from skill-based to merit-based immigration. What would this mean for immigrants and the US? Keep reading to find out.

It’s unsurprising that the current legislation advocates for change to the immigration system, particularly regarding the H-1B visa. With all the problems that made headlines in 2023, it’s apparent to anyone who pays attention to immigration that an underlying issue must be addressed. One possible solution to alleviate some of the backlog of family- and employment-based green cards is to move the filing dates in the Visa Bulletin forward. How would this benefit current and future H-1B workers? Read on to find out.

With the most recent Visa Bulletin released and the start of the new federal fiscal year in place, you’re seeing the terms H-1B Visa, EB-2 Green Card transfer, and Visa Bulletin everywhere in immigration headlines. What do these terms refer to, and how are they related? We’ll explain what you need to know here.

For decades, the US has relied upon foreign workers to fill vital positions in the labor market, including both skilled and unskilled jobs. In more recent years, the focus has shifted to ensure critical industries, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), are taken care of through work visas such as the H-1B. This program has been in place since 1990 and is run by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Since its implementation, the H-1B program has significantly impacted the US economy, and we’ll discuss the effects here.

It’s not a surprise that immigration visas are backlogged for many categories in various countries, particularly India’s H-1B visa. But with a wait time of over ten years for thousands of individuals, it’s understandable that their patience is disappearing. Now, presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy is promising to overhaul the H-1B visa program, replacing the outdated system with a more fair process. What is he promising, and how is it being received? We’ll explain here.

As the immigration system in the United States continues to undergo scrutiny, it is slowly evolving one category at a time. Most recently, on September 18, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security issued a proposed rule to bring the H-2 Temporary Visa Program up-to-date, strengthening protections for these workers and making other much-needed changes. What does this modernization attempt mean for skilled and unskilled workers? We’ll break down the changes here.