The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will accept new H-1B visa filings on April 1 for a start date of Oct 1. H-1B work visas are for foreign national employees that are college degreed professionals such as software developers, engineers, chemists, scientists, financial analysts, etc. The annual quota of 85,000 visas applies to first time H-1B’s, not to extensions with the same company or transfers to other companies.
It is suggested that employers query their departments to see if they have a need for such a visa for either a possible new hire or to keep a valued current foreign national employee work authorized. This year's quota is expected to fill up relatively fast.
Many employers have valued foreign national employees working on a one-year work permit after college (known as Option Practical Training or OPT). Since the OPT will expire, it’s important that the H-1B visa be explored to allow them to remain work authorized. Some employees are eligible for a one-time extension of their OPT (based on their STEM education in science, technology, engineering, and math), but eventually will still need the H-1B visa.
For more information, please contact Greg Berk, Chair of the CDF Immigration Practice Group.
