Applying H1B Visas – Sample Plan

Applying H1B Visa 2015 – Sample Plan

Below is the sample plan with information on what you need to do at every step. It should give you enough information and time to plan for this year’s H1B visa petition filing. Depending on the activity, you would have to carry out few activities in parallel. It is assumed that your profile is

Month	Dates	H1B Visa Application Activity
January	15th  – 31st	Research on H1B Visa sponsoring companies. You need to create a list of all the companies that are likely to sponsor H1B Visa for your profile.  Read article :  How to find H1B Visa 2015 Sponsors. You use our H1B Visa Sponsors Database to look for companies that sponsor H1B visas in a particular City or Zipcode. You will apply for jobs during this period with these companies and do job interviews with the companies. Think of this period as intensive job search. If you are in US and doing internship at a company, you would need to check with them, if they would sponsor H1B Visa for you. If Not, you need to do the above.
February	1st   – 15th
February	15th  – 31st	You need to make sure, you have an offer on the table from a H1B Sponsoring company. If you get multiple job offers, it is even better. You have the choice to negotiate, before you finalize the company. Verify the H1B Visa Sponsoring companies – Due diligence on the above list of sponsors you have created and the companies that you interviewing with.  You will need to dig into details like the types of jobs and LCAs these companies have filed, including approvals, denials, etc.  You can use our H1B Visa Sponsors Database for the same. Check main menu above.
February	15th  – 31st	Secure all the required documents for filing the H1B visa application. Typical set of documents you would need are transcripts, degree certificates, experience letters, etc. Read article H1B Visa Petition Filing Check list.
February	15th  – 31st	Negotiations with H1B sponsoring companies.  Usually, you will talk to companies as part of the HR round or consulting companies and finalize the offer.  Read the below articles What to Ask H1B employer  before offer letter How to Negotiate  Salary & benefits in consulting
February	21st – 28th	You need to finalize the H1B Sponsoring company by this week. If you have multiple offers looking attractive, you need to put them in an excel and rank them based on various aspects like salary, benefits, good will, brand, etc.  If you are joining a consulting company, ensure that you know someone in that company, talk to someone working there so that you know the ground reality.
March	1st – 7th	You need to work with your employer and their attorney for filing H1B petition. You will need to send the documents, usually only scan copies of the documents are requested by attorney. Do NOT provide any origianls. Read article on What NOT to give to H1B Employer to file petition. Send out all the scan copies via email. If anything required as hard copy, just courier the same.  It is critical that you work with your attorney and have it ready so that they file for your LCA during this week itself. Your LCA has to be filed this week as it can take a week to be processed.  As soon as you have a decision made, just work with attorney and ensure they file the LCA for you.
March	8th – 24th	You need to check with your attorney and employer, if they have all the documents and everything is on track. This is the most busiest time for employers and attorneys. If everything went well and your attorney has all the paperwork, there is no activity for you.  Just keep tabs on everything so that you don’t hear last minute surprises.
March	24th – 31st	You have no activity.  Your attorney/ H1B sponsor would work with companies like UPS, FedEx, USPS to deliver your H1B visa application petition exactly on April 1st, 2014,  which is a Tuesday.

6 ways to get your working visa

So many countries offer working holiday visas these days, allowing you to earn some extra money while you travel and take in the culture. Here are the countries that offer such visas and how to go about applying for them – and, for those that don't, the other visas that are available to you.

1. Australia

Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship

Australia's Working Holiday programme allows people aged between 18-30 to travel and work within the country for 12 months. Travel is open, you can enter and re-enter as much as you want during this time, but the employment must be the secondary purpose, and only be for six of the 12 months. Employment can only be extended in exceptional conditions.

Visitors from America apply for the Subclass 462 visa, while travellers from the UK, India and Canada for the Subclass 417 visa. New Zealand passport holders can work in Australia without restriction.

For non-US applicants, generally you can apply for a second working holiday visa after completing three months of work on your first visa. Working holiday visa holders are permitted to undertake any kind of temporary or casual work.

2. UK

UK Border Agency

The UK's Youth Mobility Scheme is available to nationals of Australia, Canada and New Zealand aged 17-30, allowing holders 24 months to work and travel during the full two-year period. Although this is a time limit which cannot be extended or put on hold, travel is open for you to leave or re-enter the country to your heart's content.

There are no restrictions on the type of work you are allowed to do, except that you can't start up your own business, work in professional sports or as a trainee doctor. You also don't need a UK sponsor.

Indian citizens require a general visitor visa for tourism, which extends to no longer than six months and does not include employment. However, if you visit the UK on a regular basis, you can apply for a multiple-entry, long-term visa for one, two, five or ten years.

You can also apply under British ancestry if you are want to work in the UK and are a Commonwealth citizen and can prove that at least one of your grandparents was born in the UK. This allows you to stay and work in the UK for five years or more.

3. America

American Visa Bureau

Those hoping to visit America just for travel from the UK, Australia or New Zealand can be covered for three months' travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), as long as an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application is completed. Under the B2 American Tourist visa, you can extend this up to six months, however no employment or financial gain is permitted. The J1 visa does cover on the job training for the extent of an exchange program, both for casual and more specialised work environments.

America unfortunately does not offer work holiday visas, but there are temporary employment and tourist visas available. The H1B required a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in the specialty, the relevant work experience and any lisence, registration or certificate needed to authorise practice. These are generally issued for three years, and may be extended. L1 applicants must be related to an American organisation, have continuously worked for the organisation for at least one year in the past three and be a person of specialised knowledge.

There are 10,500 E-3 visas open on a first-come, first-serve basis to Australian nationals, provided they have an offer of specialty employment already in place. These are valid for two years and can be renewed indefinitely on a two-year basis. Canadians can also be employed under a TN visa as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

4. New Zealand

Immigration New Zealand

Conditions for a working holiday visa in New Zealand vary from country to country, but Australian nationals are able to live and work in New Zealand at any time for any duration. Working holiday visas are available for US, UK and Canadian citizens. British eligibility requires that applicants be between 18-30, and can apply for a 12 or 23-month stay, although must not work for more than 12 months of this time.

Americans and Canadians have the opportunity of 12 months with a working holiday visa. Applicants from the US must be between 18-30, whereas Canada extends this up to 35. Most travellers can also enrol in one training or study course of up to three months during this time. Visa holders are free to leave and re-enter the country at will during the allotted time.

For purely tourist purposes, Canadians can visit New Zealand for up to three months without a visa. British citizens for up to six months.

5. Canada

Canadian Visa Bureau

Canadian working holiday visas, or International Experience Canada (IEC) work permits are open to nationals of Australia, New Zealand and the UK, and the age restrictions, type of work allowed and duration varies.

New Zealanders between 18-35 can apply for a year's work permit, while British nationals between 18-30 can apply for a year. Australians aged 18-30 can apply for a visa for up to two years.

In terms of temporary work visas, not all jobs require a visa (such as clergy, film and media crew, public speakers, judges etc), although may need a temporary resident visa. The Canadian Visa Bureau has also advertised that certain IT workers can have their work permits processed faster, due to demand.

Most don't need a visa just to visit Canada, although Indian nationals do. A temporary resident visa may be required. Under NAFTA, US citizens are also able to access Canada more quickly and easily for business.

6. India

Indian Visa Application Centre UK

India unfortunately does not offer working holiday visas; those hoping to visit the country must instead apply for a tourist or an employment visa.

Employment visas for India require that you be employed by an Indian company or do honourary work with registered NGOs in India. The visas will have limited validity, irrespective of the length of contract you have with your organisation, but can be extended for up to five years.

Tourist visas are available for three months, six months or a year, and are non-extendable and cannot be converted into any other type of visa. Depending on how often you plan to leave and re-enter the country, you must apply for a single, double or multiple-entry visa.

This visa advice has been sourced for citizens of the UK, US, Canada, India, New Zealand and Australia. Many visas are open to other nationalities. Please see individual visa application websites (above) for further info.

Top 5 things to prepare before moving abroad

Research Visa Requirements

Visa requirements will vary from country to country, so it is important to research the different types of visas and find out which one suits you and your situation best. Some visas, such as the Canadian International Experience Class visa, have very limited places and fill up quite fast. For this reason, it is useful to research your visa options well in advance so as to be best prepared should a limited places approach apply to your desired visa. Our website has detailed information on the visa requirements of all of the countries listed from Australia and America to Germany and New Zealand.

Make copies of your I.D., Passport Photos and documents

Before you leave for your new country make sure to make photocopies of your ID and passport. Perhaps leave one of the copies with a friend or family member, so if you ever lose something you have a copy of it for the Embassy. Also make sure to bring along a few spare passport photos, these are handy to have when you first arrive and need to apply for local ID cards or travel cards.

Get your Qualifications Recognised

Remember that your qualifications may not be compatible to the qualification standards of your chosen country. Make sure to research if your qualifications are recognised and if not, you will have to get them recognised by the local authorities in the country. For more information on getting your skills recognised see the Where to go section on our website.

Update your C.V.

The layout of a C.V. will differ from country to country. Some countries prefer detailed descriptions on previous work experiences while other countries will only be looking for concise details of your experience. You should update your C.V. to suit the requirements of your chosen country as it will work in your favour when applying for jobs. Remember also for some countries it is a good idea to get your C.V. translated into the local language, even if it is not a requirement it will present a good image of you being prepared.

Create a Budget

It may sound like a boring idea but creating a budget will enable you to know how long you can live in your new country off your savings and what is your time limit for finding a job. You should also check if your destination country requires you to have a minimum amount of money in your bank account, and factor this into your budget. Something else that is important to factor in, is the cost of living in your destination country, as this will have a huge influence on how far your money will go.

The most important thing to remember is research. Some people will move to a country with little or no research completed and as a result they are not prepared for what is ahead. Once you research and plan you will be prepared for whatever your new move throws at you and you can enjoy it to the full, as it is going to be one of the best times of your life.

US STUDENT VISA (ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL)

If you would like to study as a full-time student in the United States, you will need a student visa. There are two nonimmigrant visa categories for persons wishing to study in the United States. These visas are commonly known as the F and M visas.

F-1 Student Visa

The F-1 Visa (Academic Student) allows you to enter the United States as a full-time student at an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training program. You must be enrolled in a program or course of study that culminates in a degree, diploma, or certificate and your school must be authorized by the U.S. government to accept international students.

M-1 Student Visa

The M-1 visa (Vocational Student) category includes students in vocational or other nonacademic programs, other than language training.

ELIGIBILITY FOR F-1 AND M-1 VISAS

To be eligible for F-1 or M-1 visa category:

• You must be enrolled in an "academic" educational program, a language-training program, or a vocational program
• Your school must be approved by USCIS
• You must be enrolled as a full-time student at the institution (Once you are enrolled you will be issued a I-20 form from the institute which is needed for your visa application)
• You must be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency
• You must have sufficient funds available for self-support during the entire proposed course of study
• You must maintain a permanent residence abroad which you have no intention of giving up.

F-1 and M-1 visa applicants may also be required to meet certain health and character requirements.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS VISA ?

F-1 students may not work off-campus during the first academic year, but may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions, M-1 students may engage in practical training only after they have completed their studies.

For both F-1 and M-1 students any off-campus employment must be related to their area of study and must be authorized prior to starting any work by the Designated School Official.

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age may apply to join their spouse or parent in the US.

H-1 B WORK PERMIT

The H-1B non immigrant classification is for foreign internationals who wish to work there and are coming to the United States temporarily to perform within these services: 

• Specialty occupation
• Department of Defense worker
• Fashion model

H-1 B Visas have statutory numerical limitation of 65,000 per fiscal year.

Note for H-1 B1 visa aspirants: [The Chile & Singapore Free Trade Agreement requires the USCIS to exempt 6,800 H1B visas from the H1B visa cap (which is in total 65,000) and be reserved for eligible citizens of Chile and Singapore which is called the H-1 B1 specialty occupation visa.]

ELIGIBILITY FOR H-1 B VISA

	To be eligible for an H-1B visa, you must demonstrate that you have:
Evidence that the proposed employment qualifies as a specialty occupation Evidence that you have the required degree by submitting either: a. A copy of your U.S. baccalaureate or higher which is required by the specialty occupation b. A copy of your foreign degree and evidence it is equivalent to a U.S. degree c. Evidence of experience and education, which is equivalent to the U.S. baccalaureate degree A copy of any required licenses or other official permission to practice the occupation in the state of intended employment A copy of any written contract between you and your employer, and a summary of the terms of the oral agreement under which you will be employed

	Occupations Generally Considered
	Accountant, Acupuncturist, Chiropractor, Computer Programmer, Dietitian, Electronics Specialist, Fashion Designer, General Manager (where business is complex), Graphic Designer, Hotel Management, Industrial Designer (with B.A.), Interior Designer (commercial), Journalist, Librarian, Medical Records Librarian, Medical Technologist, Minister, Orthopedist, Pharmacist, Social Worker, Technical Publications Writer and Vocational Counselor.
You cannot apply for a H-1B visa as an individual. A United States employer has to sponsor your H-1B visa. To sponsor you, the employer must: File a Labor Condition Application (LCA) for you with the U.S. Department of Labor File a Petition for you as nonimmigrant worker and supporting documentation and the approved LCA with the USCIS

If you are overseas, you must take the H-1B approval notice to the American Consulate to obtain the H-1B visa. If you are already in the U.S., you can start working for your employer as soon as you receive the H-1B approval notice.

Applicants will need to meet certain health and character requirements for H-1 B visa.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS VISA ?

You can be in H-1B status for a maximum period of six years at a time. After that time you must remain outside the U.S. for one year before another H-1B petition can be approved. However, foreign nationals working on defense department projects may remain in H-1B status for ten years, though you can take other steps toward lawful permanent resident status without affecting your H-1B status.

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age may apply for the applicable derivative visa (H4 visa) to join their spouse or parent in the US. Accompanying spouses and children are entitled to study in the United States but are not entitled to undertake any employment without obtaining an appropriate work visa.