H-1B Visas accepted from April 1st
H-1B Visa applications for the United States have been officially accepted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services since April 1st, 2011. These H-1B Visas will be for the 2012 fiscal year, which starts in October of this year.
The cap on the H-1B Visa is 65,000 this year, with 20,000 of those visas designated for those who have a master’s degree or higher from a United States university.
The H-1B visa is to fill jobs that American workers cannot otherwise fill, but certain occupations like government researchers, non-profit researchers, those at non-profit entities and universities are exempt from the cap.
The time needed to fill the cap has increased over the last few years. It used to take only a few days to receive enough applications to meet the quota for H-1B Visa applications, but in recent years it has taken a full cycle. This year with the economy improving, the time needed is expected to be a bit shorter. We in fact anticipate that the quota could be filled within months if not sooner. It is therefore essential to file your H-1B Visa application as soon as possible to avoid being left out.
Immigration lawyer can help with H-1B applications
It’s vital that H-1B Visa applicants steer clear of anyone who offers to help them get an H-1B Visa without a valid job offer or who offers to manufacture a job offer for you. This is one of the fastest ways to have your application denied and face prosecution for immigration fraud. These applicants can get complicated and involve a great deal of documentation and procedural steps that must be followed.