Do you want to work in the United States and is looking for options? Do you want to come to the states and take advantage of the thriving job market? There are several reasons why you might want to come to the US for employment. For this, the government offers various employment-based visas to facilitate the immigration of foreign workers.
What Are the Best Employment-Based Visas Available in the US?
H-1B Speciality Occupation
Even though the H-1B Visa is a nonimmigrant visa, it allows dual intent. Dual intent means that the foreign national can come to the US for temporary employment and then apply for permanent residence without affecting their current status.
The employer is responsible for filing a petition on behalf of the foreign national. The employer must also demonstrate how the position offered to the foreign national qualifies for a “specialty occupation” as defined by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). For an H-1B Visa, the foreign national must have a bachelor’s degree or higher in a specific field related to the job offer.
Annually, only 65,000 H-1B Visas are offered with an additional 20,000 reserved for foreign nationals with a master’s degree from a designated US university. However, universities, nonprofit research institutions, nonprofits affiliated with a university and government research institutes are exempt from this quota.
An H-1B Visa is valid for 3 years and can be extended up to 6 years if the foreign national applies for permanent residency. If the foreign employee is terminated for some reason, the noncitizen has a 60 day grace period or until their visa is valid within which to leave the country.
Foreign nationals may also change their employers using an H-1B transfer however their visa will still be valid for the remainder of 6 years.
