CDF U.S. Immigration Newsletter: Time to File H-1B Visas

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, Partner and Chair of Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger LLP's Immigration Practice Group.

CDF provides U.S. immigration visa services to individuals and employers worldwide and counsel to California employers in labor and employment law matters.

Contact Information
For additional information, please contact Greg L. Berk, Partner & Chair of the Immigration Practice Group at gberk@cdflaborlaw.com.

Other Contact Links
CDF Website
CDF Labor, Employment & Immigration Law Blog

CDF Offers the Following U.S. Immigration Services
EB-5 Immigration Investors and E-2 Non-Immigrant Investors
Work Permits
Permanent Residence
H-1B Professional Visas
L-1 Visas (Executives & Specialized Knowledge Workers)
0-1 Visas (Extraordinary Ability) and P Visas (Athletes & Entertainers)
F-1 Students, J-1 Visitors, and B-1/B-2 Visitors
TN Visas (Canada & Mexico), E-3 (Australia), and H-1B1 (Chile/Singapore)
I-9 Compliance
Second Opinions & Problem Resolution