H1B Visas news and updates for 2010
Earlier in 2010, the United States Government increased the fees for companies applying for H1B visas, while fees for immigrant H1B processing also increased. However, the fee increases were extremely small, and in some cases the fees only increased by only $5.
As of December 10th, 2010, there were over 15,000 H1B visas still available, which may extend into January 2011 if they are not all taken. However, the numbers are dwindling quickly so it may be wise to contact an immigration lawyer as soon as possible if an H1B visa is right for you.
H1B Visa Requirements
The H1B visa is a temporary skilled worker visa. It is for specialty occupations, so it is most likely that each job will require post-secondary education. The requirements for the H1B visa are:
- You work in a “specialty occupation” or have the educational requirements for that occupation.
- You must have a job offer from a United States employer that offers the “prevailing wage” for the area.
If the job through which someone was granted an H1B visa was terminated by the employer, the applicant has more options than with other visas: they can find another employer or they can change their visa status to another non-immigrant visa type.
UPDATE: The above is an archived article. For the most recent information about H-1B visas and the application process, click here.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
