College Requirements for H1B Work Visa

[alygirl92 1]

So the college requirements for a work visa are 4 years of college but 3 years of work experience is equivalent to 1 year of college. So my boyfriend has a BTE (which is the equivalent of a two year associates degree) in Information Technology. He has just over two years of work experience at the Delphi plant in Kenitra. He also went to one year of university in an unrelated topic (arabic specialization law). So my questions are, does the one year of college count or is it eliminated because it's in a field not exactly related to his work? And (if the one year of university doesn't count) if he took a one year certificate course from an online college would that fulfill the requirements? In one year he would have 3 years of college and 3 years of work experience.

[Anh map 2,098]

Let the attorney for the employer figure it out.

[Happytobe 164]

The BTE schools don't require a high school diploma. Many of the Moroccan degrees don't transfer well to the US. It may be worth the money to pay one of the degree conversion companies to convert his schooling to see what it is worth here. And, as Anh map stated, those are things that the potential company's lawyers would have to figure out.

[alygirl92 1]

He does have a high school diploma as well, from a Moroccan high school. So is the theory that we should just apply for some jobs and then let the company lawyers figure out whether he's eligible or not?

[Boiler 46,238]

Assuming that he is looking at an IT job then he would need 6 years work experience in IT to make up for the 2 missing years.

Would be easier to complete his education and get a Bachelor's, a lot of Employers are looking at Masters now.

From a job search point of view having work experience in his sector would look much better on his resume.

[Happytobe 164]

I had a friend, years ago, who was from Morocco. He was here on a work visa originally, and, at the time I knew him, he was preparing for citizenship.... He had several degrees in IT, was designing websites for companies, etc. He was more qualified than, apparently, any Americans (because the company has to prove that there is not a person in the US that they could hire instead).

It took my husband 1.5 years here to find a permanent position with a company here. He has his AA in the German language, his BA in English Literature, and is fluent in a total of 4 languages. He worked in tourism/hospitality for 20 years in Morocco, and could not find work in that field here, nor have his degrees helped in finding work.

I hate to burst your bubble, but, as Boiler pointed out, your boyfriend needs 6 years experience to count for anything, and it needs to be good experience. The only place that I can think of that may be of any use (as I know several Moroccans who have come to the States through them) is Disney. Applicants have to take and pass an English exam, so they must be very fluent with both reading and writing.

Honestly, if I were you.... I'd ask a friend or family member to help with your parents for a week or two, and go meet him. I realize I'm a completely different person than you.... but I would need a break with all that you handle. Surely your parents would understand that you need a little time for yourself. Anyway, that's my 2-cents, but I'm an old, stubborn lady, and I do what I have to, to stay sane.

Best of luck

[Boiler 46,238]

He was more qualified than, apparently, any Americans (because the company has to prove that there is not a person in the US that they could hire instead).

That is not the case, I seem to recollect that Disney brought over a load on H1b's to replace existing American employees.

http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/25/technology/disney-h1b-workers/

The case is not that there were was nobody else who could do the job but that they replaced existing workers.

[Happytobe 164]

That is not the case, I seem to recollect that Disney brought over a load on H1b's to replace existing American employees.

http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/25/technology/disney-h1b-workers/

The case is not that there were was nobody else who could do the job but that they replaced existing workers.

Ahhhh ok. Thanks for that clarification, Boiler. All the people I knew were in the Moroccan Area there to give a more realistic feel. (I've never been to Disney, so I'm not sure of the exact area) One was a chef, another was an "Arab" Princess, things like that. The English testing is correct, though. I knew Disney was a little different than, say, an IT position, that's why I mentioned it. The other person I knew, I believe had his Masters in IT, as well as experience. Just trying to show that it's not like someone in the US applying for a job here, per se, but that there are added challenges for a foreign worker.

[alygirl92 1]

We're still looking into different options so we haven't really made any final choices about anything. Just taking things one day at a time mostly!

[Happytobe 164]

We're still looking into different options so we haven't really made any final choices about anything. Just taking things one day at a time mostly!

That's a good way to approach things

[Boiler 46,238]

Ahhhh ok. Thanks for that clarification, Boiler. All the people I knew were in the Moroccan Area there to give a more realistic feel. (I've never been to Disney, so I'm not sure of the exact area) One was a chef, another was an "Arab" Princess, things like that. The English testing is correct, though. I knew Disney was a little different than, say, an IT position, that's why I mentioned it. The other person I knew, I believe had his Masters in IT, as well as experience. Just trying to show that it's not like someone in the US applying for a job here, per se, but that there are added challenges for a foreign worker.

They mostly use J's, but a Chef Chef could be anything, met a Chef from Mexico who worked for a Hotel chain here on a L, but he basically ran a large catering operation.

[Happytobe 164]

They mostly use J's, but a Chef Chef could be anything, met a Chef from Mexico who worked for a Hotel chain here on a L, but he basically ran a large catering operation.

Just for clarification for the OP... Is the J Visa the one that requires the holder to return to their home country for at least 2 years? I'm not familiar with the L visa.... but are their similar requirements? From her series of posts, I'm sure she will be curious.

Thank you for all of your input. You are an awesome source of knowledge!

[Boiler 46,238]

J is a temp visa, not sure if he qualifies. If he does by e is unlikely to have a 2 year HRR.

[alygirl92 1]

Thanks for the info! It's a lot of help!

[Boiler 46,238]

No problem