VISA2US Blog

With a valid H-1B visa, you have many of the same rights and privileges as a native US citizen for three years (with an optional three-year extension). During that time, you are allowed to live and work in the US, receiving the agreed-upon salary covered in the terms of your visa. But with those privileges comes responsibilities, including the requirement to pay taxes. How do you know what taxes you must file as an H-1B holder? We have that information here in this guide.

When you employ foreign workers (or you are the employee), particularly with H-1B visa holders, the terms “E-Verify” and “H-1B portability” often show up. While neither is universal, they are essential in certain aspects of the immigration world. What do these terms mean, and how are they related? We’ll explain those answers here.

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.

Foreign nationals who enter the US via the temporary visa route, like a work or student visa, often decide to stay permanently. They must apply for lawful permanent residency and obtain a green card to do this. Not all visas permit this path, but the H-1B category, also called a dual-intent visa, does, all without needing to leave the country. You just need to file an Adjustment of Status (AOS) and go through the green card process, and we’ll explain how to do that here.

America’s immigration policies are frequently tied to the political situation in the country at any given time. When those in charge of reformation and policies can’t come to an agreement, the resulting impasse may have serious consequences. That’s what we see playing out on the near horizon as the end of the fiscal year approaches. If Congress can’t agree on how to fund the federal government, a partial shutdown could happen, and the impact could be damaging to those awaiting immigration paperwork. We’ll explain what’s going on and what you should be doing to prepare for a potential government shutdown here.

Foreign workers under the H-1B visa umbrella enjoy the added perk of bringing their spouses and eligible children to the United States. While employed in this category, they have up to six years to live and work in America. During this period, it’s common for children to “age out” of the visa’s eligibility requirements. What happens when your child gets to this point, and is there any way you can keep them in the US with you? We have the details here.

Each country has its own requirements in place that determine how foreign individuals may enter and work within its borders. In the United States, visa categories like J-1 Exchange Visitors and H-1B Specialty Occupation Workers are popular. The two visas have certain similarities in which they overlap in qualifications, but overall, they are distinctly different. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know to understand J-1 versus H-1B visas.