Merged: All About H1B Visa

[neugierig]

^^ don't worry chocolate.  They already spent around $8k to process your visa at this point.

I think they'll proceed with your visa at least.  You'l get the packet and have it stamped.  But its possible your actual start date at the company might be moved back due to the economy.  I'm not sayin it will happen, but its possible.

what field are you in btw?

[chocolatefever]

^thanks neugierig!  i don't think it's that expensive though, 'cos it was not filed through premium processing. but ofcourse i don't know how much they've paid the law office.  that made me feel better, though.    i guess i just have to be patient.  i'm in the allied medical field

[neugierig]

the actual fees are about 2.5-3k.  but the lawyer's fees and all the rest (education matching and some other stuff on their end) can reach up to 8k.  at least, that's what i heard from some forums. 

[pretinnes]

@pretinnes, you can apply for secured credit card. may deposit (starting at $500) then after 13 months you can convert it to regular credit card

oo nga daw sis. kailangan ng deposit. nag apply na ako. thanks.

anyway sino dito nakapag file na ng extension ng h1b visa?

[neugierig]

i haven't done that.  but a friend of mine has.  he basically just crossed over to mexico, spent a few days there, and had it extended.  pretty quick and painless.

[pretinnes]

^bakit sa mexico siya nag file? do you have any idea if mabilis lang pag process niya?

and pwede ba umuwi ng pinas habang inaantay ang approval ng extension from uscis? thanks

[neugierig]

i dunno.  all i know is you can have it extended in any US embassy.  from where we are, mexico is just a 3 hour drive.  manila is an option, but i guess he didnt want to spend on the airfare. 

i don't know the process, and all the info i have is second hand from my friend. 

[twisted_pop]

pretinnes, you will apply for an h1b extension just like how you would apply for an h1b visa...
your lawyer can do that for you...the fees range from $400+ per person...baka nagtaas na ngayon...
new extensions can vary from 1 year, 2 years or 3...
we didn't have to file for an extension since our gc got approved before the expiration of our visas...
my korean friend had to extend hers because her gc application was under the eb3 category which is taking a long time to process...she was asked to take a leave of absence while waiting for the approval of her extension...since naka-apply na, it wasn't necessary for her to leave the country....she just couldn't work because our company is very strict re:immigration status....hope that helps....

[babe010607]

hi mga friends I have a question regarding H1B visa. Im here now in United States. and I am looking for a petitioner may lawyer nadin ako. I am a registered nurse. I have talked to my lawyer and kailangan ko ng petitioner para maasikaso ang papers ko from tourist visa to convert to working visa. My question is: 1.) kapag may nkuha na ba ako na pwedeng magpetition sakin and maayos na ng lawyer do I need to go back in the philippines para dun interviewhin in immigration aabout sa working visa ko. Or pwede na na dito na ako sa US. and iconvert nalng yun?
2.) I have a boyfriend who is in the philippines. Ive heard about h4 dependent visa. Pwede ko ba siya ipetition as My H4 kapag naaprove nako for working visa? or kailangan magpakasal muna kami bumalik ako philippines? then wait for the aproval of working visa? possible ba na ifile ko sya as dependent then once naaprove nako punta cya dto as fiance visa then saka kami magpakasal dito? what step should I do kaya? thanks for helping me..

[twisted_pop]

^hi babe010607...below is my hubby's reply to your question...gusto nya kase sumali and since he was the h1b holder, sige na nga 
to qoute him "I have the same situation when I came here as a tourist 8 years ago. (I just got my green card in 2007). Nakakuha ako ng employer na nag- petition sa akin at nabigyan ako ng H1B then nag- apply ako ng h4 for my wife and 2 kids who were in the Phils then.  My answer to your question #1. Pag naayos yung H1b mo rito di kana uuwi, unless mag expire yung 1-94 mo which will require you na
mag-exit ng U.S. Like what my friends did,  they went to Canada at kasama pa yung lawyer. But inspite of that they also have their gc's now. Just a reminder, recession ngayon.  When applying for an h1b you will have to go through an advertisement. This stage means na your employer needs to prove na they couldn't find someone with your ability among the locals. But with the current situation here in the US, medyo mahirap i-justify yan ngayon. I'm sure you've been briefed by your lawyer regarding these issues. Basta wag mong hayaang mag-expire ang tourist visa mo. How many months ba ang binigay sa yo ?
#2. H4 e para sa asawa at anak lang. Direct dependents only. Others wait to get their green card before they go home at magpakasal and apply as a dependent. The rest of the people here can answer that very well. Hope that helps

[gnela_21]

hi mga friends I have a question regarding H1B visa. Im here now in United States. and I am looking for a petitioner may lawyer nadin ako. I am a registered nurse. I have talked to my lawyer and kailangan ko ng petitioner para maasikaso ang papers ko from tourist visa to convert to working visa. My question is: 1.) kapag may nkuha na ba ako na pwedeng magpetition sakin and maayos na ng lawyer do I need to go back in the philippines para dun interviewhin in immigration aabout sa working visa ko. Or pwede na na dito na ako sa US. and iconvert nalng yun?
2.) I have a boyfriend who is in the philippines. Ive heard about h4 dependent visa. Pwede ko ba siya ipetition as My H4 kapag naaprove nako for working visa? or kailangan magpakasal muna kami bumalik ako philippines? then wait for the aproval of working visa? possible ba na ifile ko sya as dependent then once naaprove nako punta cya dto as fiance visa then saka kami magpakasal dito? what step should I do kaya? thanks for helping me..

Hi, regarding your question about H1B application for nurses, it would be best that you check this page: http://www.murthy.com/h1bnurse.html For you to qualify for a H1B visa as a nurse you have to be either a:
-clinical nurse specialists (CNSs)
-certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNAs)
-certified nurse-midwives (CNMs)
-certified nurse practitioners (NPs)

Nurses usually fall under the EB3 category which is why most of the nurses na nakapasa na ng mga NCLEX are still in Pinas, naka retrogress ang EB3 visa.

If you are filed under H1B, you can marry your bf so that he can accompany you as your dependent under H4 visa. Goodluck!

[chocolatefever]

^i have the same answers as twisted pop's husband, although my answers are just based on reading about h1b visas and immigration, and talking to my friends who have actually been granted h1bs. i don't actually have my work papers yet although according to the lawyer, approved na raw ang H1B ko.

anyway, with regard to your fiance, i believe i read on some forums, and i think this was also discussed on atty garfinkels's show on TFC...sabi nila it is easier to have your loved one join you in the US if you petition as h4. pag green card na kasi, it takes a long time daw. may nagkwento na husband and wife have to be apart for 3 years or so because matagal maapprove ang petition for Green Card dependent (or whatever the term is). i may be wrong, this is just based on what i remember from what i've read and heard so far. HTH

[gnela_21]

^ with regards to the dependents, it will definitely take more time for dependents to accompany the petitioner if it is under immigrant visa since the dependents will have immigrant visas themselves. Unlike if you are filed under H1B (non-immigrant visa although dual-intent), you're dependent will have H4 visa (visa which I currently have). The H4 visa is valid as long as the H1B visa is.

[twisted_pop]

^agree with you on applying for an H4 na lang kase mas mabilis nga pala...
let's just wish sis babes010607 finds an employer soon...
curious lang ako why nurses fall into eb3 category ? so would that mean that it's going to be the same for pt's too ? (inquiring for my SIL)

[gnela_21]

^agree with you on applying for an H4 na lang kase mas mabilis nga pala...
let's just wish sis babes010607 finds an employer soon...
curious lang ako why nurses fall into eb3 category ? so would that mean that it's going to be the same for pt's too ? (inquiring for my SIL)

My husband is actually a PT currently working under H1B visa right now. We are also planning to file for immigrant visa, but since EB3 visas are retrogressed, he took up post-bachelor degree (doctorate in PT here in US) so that after his degree we can file under EB2.

To answer your question, PTs can be filed both under H1B and immigrant visa. Goodluck 

[twisted_pop]

^thanks for the info...i guess iba-iba ang requirements for someone to qualify in the EB2 category.
Hubby did not have a master's degree, just his bachelor's degree in architecture and 10 years experience overseas ( half of it was in Singapore, the rest here in the US). I'm not sure if income has something to do with it, too.We're just lucky to have our greencards in such a short time.
My friend's hubby is an engineer naman, he filed under EB2 also. We both got our work authorization at the same time. Unfortunately, they haven't received their greencards yet. And it's been two years na.

[gnela_21]

^ i think qualifications are post-bachelor degree or more than 5 years experience. Hindi kasi sya papasok sa 5 years experience, mahirap i-prove yung work nya kasi may mga volunteer experience lang. Mabilis lang talaga under EB2, current kasi ang visa, so less than 1 year nakukuha na yung EAD. Hopefully after he finishes school next year, current pa din yung EB2.

[first_timer]

patanong naman...if your were filed under EB2 category, you still have to do the labor certification, right?

also, i have a bachelor's degree and almost 7 years of professional experiences (5.5 in the Philippines and 1.5 here in the US), and I am planning to take up masteral studies, do you think I still have to finish the masteral before processing my green card application or pwede na yung nasimulan ko lang cya and then combined na lang with my experiences?

[gnela_21]

^ yes sis, kelangan pa din ng labor certificate kahit EB2. Check mo tong site na to sis: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=3460194d3e88d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=71919c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1____

It should provide you with information that you can use for your application. From what I understand, if you have more than 5 years of progressive experience outside of your current work, you can be considered under EB2. Better check with a lawyer or read information to make sure. Goodluck!

[anmar]

I'm not sure if you've heard but USCIS is conducting surprise visits to company worksites.
Pagdating ko after lunch may naghihintay na palang Immigration officer to interview me regarding my H1b that was filed earlier. It was just a quick interview. He asked for my ID.
Questions:
What is my position?
How much I earn?
Do I work Full time?
Is this the only company I worked for?
Whats my degree?
When I graduate?
What school?
When I started working in the company?
Who paid for the petition? -The company. Then he asked if they required me to pay them back. I said No.
Then he just took a few snapshots of the outside building. He said "everythings ok and hoped i did not scare you".

I just read about this news of surprise visit last week. Tapos napili pa ako. The officer did not ask for any paperworks about the petition though. Just a quick interview.

http://www.globalimmigrationcounsel.com/tags/h1b-and-l1-visa-reform-act/