Did Masters from US university .. Need information on H1B ..

[ahmadka 0]

Hi guys ... My first post here so please be gentle

Well I'm looking to work in the US, so I'm in need of a H1B Visa ...

I'm a previous Fulbright Scholar, and did my Masters from Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, USA, via this Fulbright Scholarship, between 2009 and 2011 .. During this time bracket, I was on J-1 visa, because of which I could not work in the US ... I'm now back in my home country (Pakistan), and want to go back to the US and work there .. Currently I'm working as a Senior Software Developer in a top IT firm .. My targeted industry is Software Development ..

I also have experience in living in the UK for about 4.5 years (between 1995 ~ 2000) .. I also currently hold a B1/B2 US Visa, which is valid for another 5 years (approx.) ...

I now have some questions regarding H1B:

1) Given my academic background, how hard will it be for me to find a sponsor in the US ?

2) What is the difference between the 65,000 and 20,000 General and Advanced H1B application caps ? .. From what I understand, 20k is additional room for people who did Masters from the US, and this 20,000 cap starts after the 65,000 cap has been reached ?

3) I also understand that April 2nd is when the date opens for H1B applications, but these applications can be applied for 6 months in advance ?

4) What is the full approximate fee for the entire H1B application process ? And would be sponsor company be paying all of this ?

Thanks in advance for your help guys

[aayitrun 66]

1. not hard but not easy at the same time. not many companies hire h1-b direct from foreign countries. its easier to actually be in the us and get an h1-b job - like from f1 etc. or be working in the US company in ur home country and get sent to the US.

2. no. if u apply with the background having a masters degree from the us, u fall into the 20k quota first. once that is filled, if the general quota still is open u get considered for that. the first 20k masters applicants will automatically be masters quota.

3. april 1. i think they start accepting apps about a week before and then all apps that were received prior to apr 1 get first priority.

4. approximately 2.5k including lawyer fees. company pays all of that. infact it is illegal for applicant to pay.

[Harsh_77 718]

1. not hard but not easy at the same time. not many companies hire h1-b direct from foreign countries. its easier to actually be in the us and get an h1-b job - like from f1 etc. or be working in the US company in ur home country and get sent to the US.

2. no. if u apply with the background having a masters degree from the us, u fall into the 20k quota first. once that is filled, if the general quota still is open u get considered for that. the first 20k masters applicants will automatically be masters quota.

3. april 1. i think they start accepting apps about a week before and then all apps that were received prior to apr 1 get first priority.

4. approximately 2.5k including lawyer fees. company pays all of that. infact it is illegal for applicant to pay.

Pretty much what you said is correct, lawyer fees now is lot more approx 5k per application.

With the market situation specially in IT its kinda saturated it would be difficult.

[ahmadka 0]

So the company which is sponsoring me is responsible for paying the entire fees ? .. Do I pay anything at all ?

Also, another thing confusing me is that suppose a US-based company decides to offer me a job today, and is also willing to sponsor me .. So then would the file everything now, or would they wait for next year for the 65k and 20k counters to reset, and then apply ?

Or should I go job hunting early next year or something ? ... I dont fully yet understand the timing of all these application things ..

Lastly, was is the best and most efficient way to find companies which are willing to sponsor international job hunters these days ?

And, there is a site named h1base.com, which claims to assist you in the whole H-1B application process, and they claim to send your resumes to HR managers in companies they know are sponsoring H-1B visas ... They also claim to have been acknowledged by a number of sites, businesses and universities in the US, but I'm still not sure if its a scam or not .. Any ideas?