If your company wants to hire foreign workers for specialty occupations in the US, understanding all aspects of the H-1B visa is important. There’s a cap to the number of H-1B visas issued every year, and there are deadlines to be adhered to. Companies often rely on experienced attorneys to guide them through the H-1B visa process, because this is an employer-sponsored visa. This means that the employer must complete the necessary formalities, for a foreign worker (who is qualified and eligible), to work in the US. Working with a skilled Dallas business immigration lawyer can be extremely useful for your business. Here are some important features of the H-1B visa.
- To qualify for H-1B visa, the foreign worker must have a valid job offer from an employer in the US. The employer must pay the equivalent wage to the foreign worker, which refers to the same wage as paid to a professional in US for the same job.
- The H-1B visa allows an employee to work in the US for a period of three years initially, which can be further extended to another six years. Note that the employer is required to fulfill necessary H-1B visa requirements for the employer.
- Those living and working in the US on a H-1B visa can bring their family to live with them. This refers to spouses and children under the age of 21. For that the H-1B visa worker can file for the H-4 visas for the family members.
- In case the job contract is terminated before the end of the term, the employer must bear all the costs related to the transportation of the H-4 visa holder to their residence. However, this requirement is not applicable in certain cases, where the H-4 visa holder has resigned from the job on his/her own will.
- Only a limited number of H-1B visas are issued every year. A total of 65,000 H-1B visas are issued each year, of which 6,800 are reserved for applicants from Singapore and Chile. There are additional 20,000 H-1B visas available for those who have completed their master’s degree or above from a university in the US. The total quota is, therefore, 85,000.
To know more on H-1B visa and other aspects, consider contacting a reliable immigration attorney. In general, immigration law is complicated, and the paperwork is extensive. An attorney can help in navigating through the process and ensuring that deadlines are met.
