If you’re a U.S. company like many others who cannot comfortably fill high-tech, scientific, educational, telecom, and engineering positions with American workers, you may be thinking of turning to foreign national workers to fill these hard-to-fill positions.
Your Company is Not Alone
Microsoft, IBM, and other companies hire foreign national workers because they can’t find American workers to fill the positions in a timely manner. This is true even in the difficult 2012 economy.
Other companies hiring foreign national workers include Infosys Technologies, Deloitte Consulting, Fujitsu Laboratories OF America, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Patni Americas, CVS Pharmacy, Qualcomm, Larsen Toubro Infotech, Intel, Wipro, Goldman Sachs, Oracle, Barclays Capital, Google, Yahoo, Hewlett Packard, Ernst and Young, National Institutes Of Health, HHS, Amazon.com, Apple, Morgan Stanley. Of course, there are thousands more companies as well.
Consult with a Qualified Immigration Attorney for H-1B Visas
An immigration lawyer can help your company get the qualified workers it needs. H-1B visas are issued to foreign national workers who are needed to work in the U.S.
Up to 85,000 H-1B visas are granted each fiscal year
H-1B Visa Benefits
The H-1B visas allow your workers to enter, live in, work, and reenter the United States.
Your worker can bring her spouse and children, under the age of 21, with her.
- These dependents are issued an H-4 visa, which does not have all the benefits of the H-1B visa.
- Bottom line is that dependents cannot work in the U.S. without their own H-1B visa or some other authorization.
H-1B Visa Renewal
The initial H-1B visa is issued for 3 years.
- It’s commonly extended for another 3 years, upon request (6 years total.)
- Only in rare circumstances is an H-1B visa extended beyond 6 years.
- Defense department employees may be able to get a 10-year H-1B visa.
If you need the foreign national employee beyond the usual 6 year limit:
- Your employee could apply for a green card.
- Your employee could leave the U.S. for one year and then reapply for another H-1B visa, which would have a fresh start date.
Where to Get Help Bringing a Foreign National Worker to the U.S.
If you want to bring a foreign national worker to the U.S. to work in your company, consult with a qualified immigration attorney, who will help you get your employee one of the coveted H-1B visas. We focus our practice on immigration law and you can reach us at 513-793-6555 or Thomasjr@geygan.com. Your next step is to contact us now.