Envoy 2017 H-1B Game Plan Webinar: How to Stay on Track and Prep Quality Petitions
Transcript of Envoy 2017 H-1B Game Plan Webinar: How to Stay on Track and Prep Quality Petitions
Presentedby:Gordie Rosoklija,anattorneyfromGlobalImmigration
Associates,anEnvoy-affiliatedlawfirm
THEULTIMATEH-1BGAMEPLAN
HowtoStayonTrackandPrepQualityPetitions
AboutEnvoy
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growthinlast2years
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authorizationin
countriesaroundtheglobe
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caseapprovalrateforover30,000cases*
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Theglobalimmigrationprocessisfrustrating,confusing,stressfulandinefficient.Fornearly20years,Envoyhasbeenonamissiontofixthat— weareaglobalimmigrationservicesprovider
combiningexpertlegalrepresentationwiththeonlytechnologyplatformthatmakesitseamlessforcompaniestohire,mobilizeandmanageaglobalworkforce.
AboutEnvoy
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50%17%
8%
4%4%
STEM
Consulting
Manufacturing
AdvertisingandMarketingEducation
Ourcustomersspanavarietyofindustries,including(top5listed):
Theglobalimmigrationprocessisfrustrating,confusing,stressfulandinefficient.Fornearly20years,Envoyhasbeenonamissiontofixthat— weareaglobalimmigrationservicesprovider
combiningexpertlegalrepresentationwiththeonlytechnologyplatformthatmakesitseamlessforcompaniestohire,mobilizeandmanageaglobalworkforce.
AbouttheAttorney
Gordie RosoklijaanattorneyfromGlobalImmigrationAssociates(alawfirmaffiliatedwithEnvoy),hasbuiltandsubmittedhundredsofnonimmigrantandimmigrantworkvisapetitions.HehasextensiveexperiencehandlingB,E,H,L,OandTNvisacases,employment-basedgreencardsandU.S.CitizenshipandImmigrationServicesRequestsforEvidence.
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Agenda
H-1BCapBreakdown
LaborConditionApplicationTips
FilingtheH-1Bpetition
Post-filingGamePlan
H-1BAlternatives
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H-1BCapBreakdown
• 20,000 specialtyworkerswithadvanceddegrees
• 58,200 allspecialtyworkers
• 6,800 specialtyworkersfromChileandSingapore
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H-1BCapbytheNumbers
5DAYSThefilingwindowfortheH-1Bcaplotterygenerallyendsafterthemandatoryminimumwindowof
fivebusinessdays.
Before2014,thewindowwasopenpastthefivebusinessdayminimumasfewerpetitionswerereceivedandmoreH-1Bvisaswereavailable.
After,thewindowhasclosedafteronlyfivebusinessdaysandarandomlotteryfortheavailablespotsoccurred.
H-1BCap:StartSoonerThanLater
WhatyouCanDotoPrepare• Notifyyourattorney
• Beginrecruitingfourmonthspriortocap(January)
• Gatherallrequireddocumentsthreemonthspriortocap(February)
Whystartearly?• Allowsyoutoidentifyproblems
• Norushing
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• Identifieswhichemployeesneedtobesponsored
• ImportantforthoseonOPTstatus
• CurrentorpotentialforeignnationalemployeesmayqualifyforclassificationsotherthanH-1B
Reviewexpirationdatesforallforeignnationalemployees:
• Fast,consistentandclearcommunicationsignificantlysimplifiestheprocess
• Onlinecommunicationstreamlinestheprocessandensuresprivacy
Starttheconversationwithyourattorneyandforeignnationalemployees:
H-1BCap:HowtoPrepare
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ConfirmH-1BEligibility
USCISneedstoconfirmthelegitimacyofyourcompanytosponsoraforeignnational
Draftjobdescriptionoutliningkeyrequirements
Forcompaniessponsoringforthefirsttime,USCISmayrequiremorecompanyinformation
H-1BCap:HowtoPrepare
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H-1BVisaRequirements
Examplesofaspecialtyoccupationinclude:
• Biotechnology• Education• Engineering• ComputerSciences• Management• Medicine
• CandidateswhopossessatleastaU.S.bachelor’sdegreeoritsequivalenthiredtoworkina“specialtyoccupation”
Who’sEligible
• Mustpossessabachelor’sdegreeorequivalenteducation/experience
• Thepositionmustrequireatleastabachelor’sdegreeinaspecificfieldandthecandidatemusthaveadegreeoritsequivalentinthatspecificfieldorfields
• Offeredsalarymustmeetminimumprevailingwage
Requirements
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LaborConditionApplication(LCA)
FilebyMarch20• Processingtimecanbeaslongas10daysduringcapseason.
• Ifthefilingwindowclosesagaininsevencalendardaysasexpected,thelastpotentiallyviabledaytofileanLCAwillbeMarch31.
TheLCAestablishestheprevailingwagethattheemployermustpaytotheforeignnational.
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H-1BVisa:DualIntent&Dependents
DualIntent
EmployersshouldbeginthegreencardprocessforH-1Bemployeesnolaterthantwoyearspriortothesix-yearmax-outdate.
DependentsEmployeesmaybeaccompaniedbytheirspousesanddependentsunder21yearsofage.
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H-1BVisaCap
• First-timeH-1Bvisaapplicantsaresubjecttotheannualcap,whichopensinApril1
• IftheH-1Bpetitionisacceptedforprocessingandapproved,thefirstofficialstartdateisOctober1
• H-1Bcandidatessponsoredbyaninstitutionofhighereducationoratcertainnonprofitentitiesarenotsubjecttothecap
H-1BCALENDAR
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FilingtheH-1BPetition
• AllpetitionsshouldbecompletedbeforeApril1tomakesureit’sreceivedbeforethelotterycloses
• TheUSCISwilllikelyclosethelotteryonApril7
TIP:Basedonpreviousyears,thelotterywillfillupwithinthefirstfivebusinessdaysofApril.
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FilingtheH-1BPetition
Fact:85,000applicationspotsareavailable,butUSCIStypicallyacceptsmorethanthatduetosomebeingdeniedduringthereviewprocess.
Oncethefilingwindowcloses,theUSCISconductstherandomlottery.Thisisgenerallycompletedwithinonetothreeweeksafterthefilingdeadline.
Acceptedpetitionswillbenotifiedwithareceiptnoticetwotofourweeksafterthelotteryisconducted.
Rejectedpetitionswillbereturnedintheirentiretywithoutareceiptnotice.
Thereceiptnumbercanbeusedtocheckthepetition’sstatusontheUSCISwebsite.
AfterFilingtheH-1BPetition
Thegovernmentthenreviewsandadjudicatespetitions4-6monthsafterissuingreceiptnumbers.Premiumprocessingreducesthisprocessto15days.
Afterallpetitionshavebeenreviewed,receiptnoticesareissued2- 3weeksafter.Onceapetitionisreviewed,theUSCISwillissueanapproval,adenial,oraRequestforEvidence.
October1,2017TheearlieststartdateforapprovedH-1BholdersisOctober1,2017.
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EmploymentWhiletheH-1BPetitionisPending
Cantheemployeecontinueworkingforourcompany?
Whatistheircurrentnonimmigrantstatus?Whendoesitexpire?
“Cap-Gap”employmentforF-1visaholders
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RejectedH-1BPetition
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Ifyourpetitionisn’tacceptedinthelotteryyourpetitionwillbesentbacktoyou.Keepinmind:
• Lotteryselectioniscompletelyrandom
• Thereisnothingyoucandotoincreaseyourchancesofacceptance
• Allfilingfeeswillberefunded
H-1BAlternatives
IfyourH-1Bpetitionisrejected,don’tlosehope.Therearevariousalternatives:• TNvisa
• E-2visa
• E-3visa
• L-1visa
• H-1B1visa
• F-1OPTSTEMExtension
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