Table of Contents
What is an H-1B visa sponsorship?
Who can sponsor an H-1B Visa?
Process to apply for an H-1B visa
Concluding thoughts
If you’re looking to make a successful career in the United States, then an H1B Visa Sponsorship could be the key to unlocking your potential. H1B Visa Sponsorship provides a great opportunity to maximize your career prospects in the United States. The H1B visa program enables foreign workers with specialty occupation knowledge to live and work in the US for up to six years.
However, obtaining an H1B visa can be a challenging and complex process, and it requires the sponsorship of a US-based employer. In this blog post, we’ll explore the H1B visa sponsorship process and how it can help you achieve your career goals in the US.
What is an H-1B visa sponsorship?
H-1B visa sponsorship is a process where a US employer sponsors a foreign worker to obtain an H-1B visa for employment in a specialty occupation. A specialty occupation is a position that requires specialized knowledge in a specific field, such as science, technology, engineering, or math.
The H-1B visa program allows US companies to hire skilled foreign workers to fill these positions when locally qualified US workers are unavailable. The H-1B visa is primarily valid for three years which can be extended up to six years and provides a pathway to permanent resident status.
Who can sponsor an H-1B Visa?
Only US employers can sponsor a foreign worker for an H-1B visa. The employer must be willing to hire the foreign worker for a specialty occupation requiring specialized knowledge in science, technology, engineering, or maths. The employer must also be willing to pay the prevailing wage for the job as applicable in that geographic area. The employer must file an H1B Labor Condition Application with the US Department of Labor and an H-1B visa petition (I-129 form) with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to sponsor a foreign worker for an H-1B visa. Let’s look at how an employer can apply for the H1B visa on behalf of the foreign worker.
Process to apply for an H-1B visa
The process for an employer to apply for H-1B visa sponsorship is a multi-step process that involves the following:
Job offer: The first step is for the employer to offer a job to a foreign worker that requires specialized knowledge in science, technology, engineering, or math.
H1B lottery: Once the job offer has been accepted, the employer must register for the H1B lottery. Each year, typically, the H1B lottery starts on March 1st and closes on March 17th.
Labor condition application (LCA): Once the candidate gets shortlisted in the lottery, the employer must file an H1B Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor (DOL) to file a complete H1B petition to the USICS. The H1B LCA is a document that outlines the terms & conditions of the job, including the wages, the location of the job, and the period of employment. The employer must also attest that they will pay the foreign worker the prevailing wage and that no US worker will get affected due to the new recruitment.
Form I-129 petition: After the US Department of Labor (DOL) has approved the H1B LCA, the employer must file an I-129 form (petition for non-immigrant) with the USCIS. The petition must include documentation that proves that the foreign worker is qualified for the specialty occupation and that the employer is financially capable of paying the prevailing wage.
Pay the fees: The employer has to pay the H1B petition fees to the USCIS to process the application. Let’s look at the fee table below.
Fee type | Amount |
Registration fee | $10 |
I-129 form fee | $460 |
Public Law 114-113 | $4000 |
USCIS anti-fraud fee | $500 |
ACWIA Education and Training Fee | $750 if the number of employees is less than 25, $1500 if the number of employees is more than 25 |
Premium Processing fee (if chosen) | $2500 |
It’s important to note that you can choose premium processing if you want your application to process fast. In premium processing, it takes 15 days to process the application, whereas, In regular processing, it may take six months.
H-1B visa approval: If the H-1B visa application is approved, the foreign worker can enter the US and begin working for the US employer who has sponsored the visa. As discussed above, the H-1B visa is valid for up to three years and can be extended for an additional three years. After six years on an H-1B visa, the non-immigrant worker can apply for a Green card to get permanent resident status. The non-immigrant worker on an H1B visa can also bring his spouse and children to the US with an H1B spouse visa.
Concluding thoughts
A US-based employer can sponsor you for the H1B visa program under specialty occupation. You must meet some eligibility requirements, like having a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, specialty occupation knowledge, and a valid passport. Once you accept the job offer, the employer registers you for the H1B lottery, and if shortlisted, your employer can file the complete H1B petition.
Imagility’s lottery app plays a significant role for individuals to connect with employers for H1B visa sponsorships. You can search for employers who might be searching for individuals to hire. The app lets you shortlist the company based on past immigration track records. It helps you keep your crucial data in one place and easily register for the USCIS H1B lottery.
Download the app on the Play Store and Apple Store now!
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