Transition from F1 to work visa

[Kanton32 0]

I am currently on an F1 visa and was granted OPT which is valid until spring 2025. I am weighing my options on post F1 and AOS and which to best proceed with and what steps/timeline would each take.

I have been working for a company for almost a year and would love to stay with them long term. There is a potential of a sponsorship although not confirmed. Not a STEM field but I do have a master's degree.

I plan to marry my long term girlfriend who is a US citizen in the next year or so.

 

Thanks in advance

[OldUser 6,614]

Sounds like a plan. Maintain your status and marry your GF when the time comes.

[Kanton32 0]

I currently hold a F1 visa that is valid until May 2025 and have been working at a company in Michigan for about a year. Would be looking to transition from my F1 visa to a work sponsored visa through them.

Looking to get a sense on the employer cost of the sponsorship and the steps needed to start the process for the sponsorship.

Any information helps, thanks!

[Crazy Cat 41,814]

***Similar threads merged.  Please do not re-post the same topic in different forums***

[appleblossom 2,448]

1 hour ago, Kanton32 said:

I currently hold a F1 visa that is valid until May 2025 and have been working at a company in Michigan for about a year. Would be looking to transition from my F1 visa to a work sponsored visa through them.

Looking to get a sense on the employer cost of the sponsorship and the steps needed to start the process for the sponsorship.

Any information helps, thanks!

 

Depends on the visa, but maybe $10k, more for an immigrant visa. They just need to get their lawyer to start the process, there isn't anything you have to do.

[Sinead91 249]

On 6/5/2024 at 11:19 AM, Kanton32 said:

I currently hold a F1 visa that is valid until May 2025 and have been working at a company in Michigan for about a year. Would be looking to transition from my F1 visa to a work sponsored visa through them.

Looking to get a sense on the employer cost of the sponsorship and the steps needed to start the process for the sponsorship.

Any information helps, thanks!

Are they subject to the H1B lottery? Or are they cap exempt? If your job is considered a specialty occupation you may get sponsorship under that umbrella. If they use outside counsel, it will cost them thousands. If they file in house, and are cap exempt it will cost $960 ($500 fraud prevention fee and $460 filing fee). If they are not a non profit or meet the other requirements, the filing fee is $780, but is totally doable without outside counsel.

Happy to answer any other questions

[Kanton32 0]

On 6/6/2024 at 3:06 PM, Sinead91 said:

Are they subject to the H1B lottery? Or are they cap exempt? If your job is considered a specialty occupation you may get sponsorship under that umbrella. If they use outside counsel, it will cost them thousands. If they file in house, and are cap exempt it will cost $960 ($500 fraud prevention fee and $460 filing fee). If they are not a non profit or meet the other requirements, the filing fee is $780, but is totally doable without outside counsel.

Happy to answer any other questions

I don't believe they fit those criteria. My job is not in STEM but requires certification and I hold an MBA if that helps. Would the EB3 route be the one to target?

[appleblossom 2,448]

On 6/17/2024 at 9:28 AM, Kanton32 said:

I don't believe they fit those criteria. My job is not in STEM but requires certification and I hold an MBA if that helps. Would the EB3 route be the one to target?

Your employers lawyers will look at the options and tell you which visa route they plan to pursue. But you certainly wouldn’t have EB-3 by spring 2025, it’ll take years, so factor that in. 

[Boiler 45,451]

Does it qualify for a TN?