VISA2US Blog

Skilled foreign workers are a crucial part of the United States economy. These individuals enter the country under business visas like the H-1B, which permits them to reside and obtain employment legally. The program, run by the federal agency known as USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services), has worked well since its inception 20 years ago. But two decades later, the amount of visas remains unchanged, and Congress is calling for a potential increase.

Getting the notice from USCIS that your H-1B visa petition was approved is exciting! All that hard work and stress has paid off, and you’re almost on your way to your new career in the United States. But there’s one more important hurdle to get through before you’re officially a US nonimmigrant working and living in the country: the visa stamping process. What does this process involve, and how have the changes in 2023 affected it? Read on to find out!

Thousands of US companies employ H-1B visa holders every year. It’s a system designed to ensure the success of the country’s economy. But when your business is deemed “H-1B dependent,” you must follow particular immigration rules and regulations that are much stricter than the average H-1B employer. If USCIS or your lawyer has labeled you in this category (or close to it), keep these requirements in mind as you go through your daily routines.

Certain fields are known to have job openings that are notoriously difficult to fill. These industries, such as those in the STEM categories, have high-skill requirements and fewer people who meet the criteria to choose from. For that reason, many of these US employers must reach beyond the pool of native applicants and attempt to find foreign workers who can help them. But this action, although it's a last resort, does not get performed lightly. You must follow government guidelines as a US employer looking to hire a nonimmigrant. We've summarized them here to help you get started. 

If you’re planning to (or already have) applied for an H-1B visa, you know the fiscal year cap seasons are more important than any other date on the horizon for you. If you miss the cutoff, you’re stuck waiting until the following year to submit your petition. 2023’s is in the past, but you still have time to get your registrations in for FY 2024 beginning March 1st. Here is everything you need to know to ensure you’re ready for the first opening days.

When you’re a resident of a foreign country, and you want to come to the United States, there are multiple options you can use. However, if your goal is to work in the US temporarily, the best avenue is an H-1B visa. This program is designed for US-based employers to obtain skilled help to fill specialty positions, such as computer programming. You must meet specific requirements as a computer programmer aiming for an H-1B visa, and we’ll explain those, as well as how to obtain the visa, here.

Under the H-1B Visa, non-immigrants can enter the United States for work and temporary residence. The only catch is that these individuals must have the skills to meet the criteria of a “specialty occupation.” If there’s a job vacancy in the US and an employer extends a job offer and is willing to sponsor the non-immigrant, they can apply for an H-1B visa. One of the possible specialty jobs is a professor, but does an assistant professor fall into this category? Read on to find out!

When an H-1B petitioner files their application and is approved, they’re agreeing to work with a specific sponsoring employer in the United States. This is a significant part of the terms of the H-1B visa contract, and transferring to another employer once in the country isn’t as easy as “getting a new job.” The new employer must complete the visa transfer application, and USCIS must approve the job change for the H-1B holder to continue working in the country legally. How difficult is this to complete? This overview will help you understand what it takes to transfer employers under an H-1B visa.

H-1B visas are non-immigrant documents that businesses use to bring in skilled workers to fill vacancies in the United States. When a US resident can’t fill the role, employers can request permission to extend the job offer to foreign nationals. However, the H-1B visa is only available for specialized positions, such as that of a business analyst. If you need a worker in this field or you hold the coveted skills of a business analyst, this article will explain everything you need to know to obtain an H-1B visa.

When you employ or are an H-1B foreign worker, you can expect to have a USCIS official at your place of employment at least once during the visa’s active period. Worksite inspections are common and ensure the conditions set when the visa was granted remain in place. But what does “place of employment” mean, and what will the official look for during that inspection? Read on to find out.