Merged: All About H1B Visa

[Inggay]

I didn't know na ganun pala katagal ang processing ng H1b extension/transfer ngayon.  We are currently in the process of extending ours, 3 months na wala pa rin.

It's taking forever talaga   My husband's friend had his H1 extended on premium, 2 months din naghintay before na-approve.

[Inggay]

Napaguusapan na lang rin ang DL, I might as well ask...

Sis gnela_21, have you ever applied for a DL in IL (it rhymes!) while you're on H4? I asked because I did when we were still in IL but DMV declined.  I was asked to present an SS card, but after I explained about my status (and even showed the original copy of my ITIN from IRS) they said that I was still not eligible.  Apparently, SS card lang talaga ang ina-accept.  If you did apply, how was your experience?

It's the same way here in MO, and I'm worried kasi I'm using my PH DL which is scary because it's past the "grace period" already.  My friend in NJ was able to get a DL just by showing an ITIN -- buti pa doon very considerate.  I can't even get a State ID kasi SS card rin ang primary requirement.

[mom_wanwan]

Ahh, onga on? Ok naman pala sila with regards sa fees. Sana they'll be more upfront above the updates. Goodluck, balitaan mo kami with the updates.
hi sis mom_wanwan! Onga sis, we got the EAD na! I've been looking for jobs even before we got the got card itself, been to interviews, kaso til now, wala pa din. Iniiisip ko baka kasi holiday month. Anyway, I've been putting myself out there kasi madaming job openings naman akong nakikita. Wish me luck!

Oo nga eh, hindi din namin alam na ganun katagal yung H processing nowadays. When we asked the lawyer, sabi nga nya 4-6 months daw. Naku problem nga yan, lalo na dependent nga pala ang DL sa visa. Pano yun, nihahatid ka ni O? Or both kayong temp permit?

Sis gnela_21, for sure makakahanap ka agad ng work, basta apply lang ng apply para pag sabay-sabay silang tumawag sayo, you have lots of choices Congrats!

About the DL naman, na-renew na namin ni O twice, this time they gave us an extension until Feb next year. Sana naman by Feb meron nang results, para ma-renew na talaga namin at matapos na ang pabalik-balik sa DMV.

Napaguusapan na lang rin ang DL, I might as well ask...

Sis gnela_21, have you ever applied for a DL in IL (it rhymes!) while you're on H4? I asked because I did when we were still in IL but DMV declined.  I was asked to present an SS card, but after I explained about my status (and even showed the original copy of my ITIN from IRS) they said that I was still not eligible.  Apparently, SS card lang talaga ang ina-accept.  If you did apply, how was your experience?

It's the same way here in MO, and I'm worried kasi I'm using my PH DL which is scary because it's past the "grace period" already.  My friend in NJ was able to get a DL just by showing an ITIN -- buti pa doon very considerate.  I can't even get a State ID kasi SS card rin ang primary requirement.

Sis Inggay, maki-answer na rin ako kasi pareho kayo ng case ng hubby ko na dependent dito rin sa MO.  You are eligible to apply for a driver's license. All you have to do is visit the Social Security Office in your place, tell them to give you a letter stating that you are not allowed to have a social security number because of your status. Just bring your passport with your I94 and tell them that you're using it to apply for a driver's license. That letter they will give you will be accepted kapag nag-apply ko for driver's license.

[Inggay]

^ Thanks for that information, sis mom_wanwan!

Alam mo when I went to the DMV office in Olivette, I was told, "It's your SSN or nothing".  How mean.  Tapos when I got home, I phoned a different DMV office just to check if they will say the same thing... and yun nga, SSN din daw.  But this second lady made an effort to ask her supervisor naman.  According to her boss, I need to apply for an SSN and since I'm not eligible, my application will get denied -- and yung denial ang ipapakita ko sa kanila.  Why would I do such a thing, diba? Baka mamaya masilip pa ako ng USCIS at isipin pa na I attempted to work on an H4 visa.  After that event, hindi ko na pinursue kasi feeling ko di rin naman lulusot.

It's really good to know that there's another way pa.  But since my I-94 is already expired, I'll have to wait until the new one comes (after the approval of the H extension).  Sana lang lumabas na soon

[gnela_21]

Sis gnela_21, for sure makakahanap ka agad ng work, basta apply lang ng apply para pag sabay-sabay silang tumawag sayo, you have lots of choices Congrats!

About the DL naman, na-renew na namin ni O twice, this time they gave us an extension until Feb next year. Sana naman by Feb meron nang results, para ma-renew na talaga namin at matapos na ang pabalik-balik sa DMV.

Super thanks sis! Onga eh, I really wish na magkawork na ako Sana nga before Feb, dumating na yung H1B extention nyo, nabasa mo ba yung Neufeld Memo? Parang yun ata yung reason kaya natatagalan yung approval ng H visas. Di ko sure if you received my text, pero nakuha ko na yung book. Pa-sign ko sa thurs. and bigay ko sayo kapag nagmeet tayo pagvisit nyo ulet!

[gnela_21]

Napaguusapan na lang rin ang DL, I might as well ask...

Sis gnela_21, have you ever applied for a DL in IL (it rhymes!) while you're on H4? I asked because I did when we were still in IL but DMV declined.  I was asked to present an SS card, but after I explained about my status (and even showed the original copy of my ITIN from IRS) they said that I was still not eligible.  Apparently, SS card lang talaga ang ina-accept.  If you did apply, how was your experience?

It's the same way here in MO, and I'm worried kasi I'm using my PH DL which is scary because it's past the "grace period" already.  My friend in NJ was able to get a DL just by showing an ITIN -- buti pa doon very considerate.  I can't even get a State ID kasi SS card rin ang primary requirement.

Sis Inggay, yes I was able to get a DL while I'm on H4. Actually yun pa din ang ginagamit ko now. They provide a TVDL (temporary visitor driver's license) which is valid until the time your H4 visa is valid. Ito yung requirements: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/drivers_license/tempvisitordl.html Good thing, nasagot na din ni sis mom_wanwan yung sa MO, that should really help kasi nasa MO sila nakabase. Goodluck! I hope lumabas na din yung approval ng H extension nyo. God Bless.

[mom_wanwan]

^ Thanks for that information, sis mom_wanwan!

Alam mo when I went to the DMV office in Olivette, I was told, "It's your SSN or nothing".  How mean.  Tapos when I got home, I phoned a different DMV office just to check if they will say the same thing... and yun nga, SSN din daw.  But this second lady made an effort to ask her supervisor naman.  According to her boss, I need to apply for an SSN and since I'm not eligible, my application will get denied -- and yung denial ang ipapakita ko sa kanila.  Why would I do such a thing, diba? Baka mamaya masilip pa ako ng USCIS at isipin pa na I attempted to work on an H4 visa.  After that event, hindi ko na pinursue kasi feeling ko di rin naman lulusot.

It's really good to know that there's another way pa.  But since my I-94 is already expired, I'll have to wait until the new one comes (after the approval of the H extension).  Sana lang lumabas na soon

Napaka-mean naman ng DMV sa inyo...dito kasi sa amin okay lang, probably hindi na naman alam ng mga taga-DMV na may iba pang options para sa status mo.  Kasi sa Joplin din before inexplain sa hubby ng isa kong kasabay na H4 din na ganun ang options niya para makakuha siya ng driver's license.
Pero correct ka sis, wait for your H4 extension first bago ka mag-apply. Sana nga dumating na mga extensions natin.

Super thanks sis! Onga eh, I really wish na magkawork na ako Sana nga before Feb, dumating na yung H1B extention nyo, nabasa mo ba yung Neufeld Memo? Parang yun ata yung reason kaya natatagalan yung approval ng H visas. Di ko sure if you received my text, pero nakuha ko na yung book. Pa-sign ko sa thurs. and bigay ko sayo kapag nagmeet tayo pagvisit nyo ulet!

Sis, ngayon ko lang nabalitaan yung sa Neufeld Memo...haay...another problem na naman...sana matanggap na namin extensions before Feb...
Hindi ko na-receive ang text mo...nagloloko kasi IPhone ko this week e, balak ko nga dalin sa Apple Store and papalitan...hindi ako makareceive ng text and hindi ako naririnig ng mga kausap ko...Thanks sis sa favor ha! Hug mo ko kay Richelle Mead! Post photos too!

[Inggay]

Sis Inggay, yes I was able to get a DL while I'm on H4. Actually yun pa din ang ginagamit ko now. They provide a TVDL (temporary visitor driver's license) which is valid until the time your H4 visa is valid. Ito yung requirements: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/drivers_license/tempvisitordl.html Good thing, nasagot na din ni sis mom_wanwan yung sa MO, that should really help kasi nasa MO sila nakabase. Goodluck! I hope lumabas na din yung approval ng H extension nyo. God Bless.

Oh, so IL DMV offers TVDL pala.  I went to the facility in Libertyville (which is not in the list), kaya siguro hindi yan nai-offer sa akin.  But then, they should've known and dinirect na lang sana ako sa ibang DMV office where TVDLs are being issued.  How lucky can I get! Yet another incident charged to experience

Napaka-mean naman ng DMV sa inyo...dito kasi sa amin okay lang, probably hindi na naman alam ng mga taga-DMV na may iba pang options para sa status mo.  Kasi sa Joplin din before inexplain sa hubby ng isa kong kasabay na H4 din na ganun ang options niya para makakuha siya ng driver's license.
Pero correct ka sis, wait for your H4 extension first bago ka mag-apply. Sana nga dumating na mga extensions natin.

Oo nga, maybe the ones I dealt with didn't know much about H4 kaya they were not able to offer options.  Sana nga lumabas na ang pinakahihintay nating extension! Bigla ako na-excite na pumunta sa SSA dahil sa suggestion mo, hehe.

[gnela_21]

Sis, ngayon ko lang nabalitaan yung sa Neufeld Memo...haay...another problem na naman...sana matanggap na namin extensions before Feb...
Hindi ko na-receive ang text mo...nagloloko kasi IPhone ko this week e, balak ko nga dalin sa Apple Store and papalitan...hindi ako makareceive ng text and hindi ako naririnig ng mga kausap ko...Thanks sis sa favor ha! Hug mo ko kay Richelle Mead! Post photos too!

Si T lang nga nagsabi sakin nung Neufeld memo na nyan. Napagusapan kasi nila ni Mike. Buti pala nasabi ko sayo dito, nagtaka nga ako kasi di ka reply eh Sige kung pwede ko hug si Richelle Mead, hug ko sya. Baka kasi ma-starstruck ako eh Hahaha. See you soon.

Oh, so IL DMV offers TVDL pala.  I went to the facility in Libertyville (which is not in the list), kaya siguro hindi yan nai-offer sa akin.  But then, they should've known and dinirect na lang sana ako sa ibang DMV office where TVDLs are being issued.  How lucky can I get! Yet another incident charged to experience

Yep, IL DMV offers TVDL pero ayun nga selected location lang. I think isa lang sa downtown, pero since natakot ako na baka ipag-parallel park nila ako, sa Rockford pa kami nagpunta! Ok lang dun. Visit ka na din sa SSA once na makuha nyo yung H extention.

[anmar]

Hi mga sis. Yung situation ko naman, Perm was filed on Dec 2007 and after a month na-approve na. Then filed I140 under EB3 and was approved after a year I think on Mar 2008. Since hindi current ang PD ko, I can't file for I485. I'm already past my 6yrs H1b. I got the 3 yr extension. Actually, ang ifile sana nila is 1yr increment pero I read somewhere na if your I-140 is approved & just waiting for your PD to be current, you can file the 3 yr extension beyond 6yrs. It really pays to be resourceful at hindi lang magrely sa sinasabi nila kasi kung hindi e di every yr mag extend ako ng extend. Hehe.
So i'm hoping/praying bago mag-expire yung 3yrs extension in 2012 ko eh current na yung priority date ko. Kasi hassle at magastos ang extension. Every month parati ko tinitingnan yung visa bulletin. And I also read immigration forums kung may mga updates on immigration proposal like visa recapture(that I need esp. on those affected by visa backlog, Eb3).

[anmar]

BTW I got my extension approval after 3 months of filing it sometime last yr.
And i remember I posted it here also na i got selected on random audit by the Immigration last year regarding my H1B. Pagbalik ko galing lunch e tinawag ako ng HR na gusto daw ako kausapin ng taga Immigration. Few questions lang naman regarding my petition. Kasi naghigpit na sila dahil marami na daw fraud na iba yung job description sa actual work, salary, etc.

[Inggay]

Yep, IL DMV offers TVDL pero ayun nga selected location lang. I think isa lang sa downtown, pero since natakot ako na baka ipag-parallel park nila ako, sa Rockford pa kami nagpunta! Ok lang dun. Visit ka na din sa SSA once na makuha nyo yung H extention.

Haha pareho kayo nung isang friend ko sa Chicago, dumayo rin para makaiwas sa parallel parking ng downtown!

So i'm hoping/praying bago mag-expire yung 3yrs extension in 2012 ko eh current na yung priority date ko. Kasi hassle at magastos ang extension. Every month parati ko tinitingnan yung visa bulletin. And I also read immigration forums kung may mga updates on immigration proposal like visa recapture(that I need esp. on those affected by visa backlog, Eb3).

EB3 applications take longer that's why some people convert to EB2 kung pupwede rin lang.  Sana nga maging current na ang PD mo soon! You've been waiting for so long... good thing cool ka pa rin

[mom_wanwan]

BTW I got my extension approval after 3 months of filing it sometime last yr.
And i remember I posted it here also na i got selected on random audit by the Immigration last year regarding my H1B. Pagbalik ko galing lunch e tinawag ako ng HR na gusto daw ako kausapin ng taga Immigration. Few questions lang naman regarding my petition. Kasi naghigpit na sila dahil marami na daw fraud na iba yung job description sa actual work, salary, etc.

I remember your post about this...medyo kinabahan nga ako nung nabalitaan ko to...I have nothing to be afraid of naman, masyado lang akong nerbyosa Sis anmar, are they still doing this until now?

[somethingreal]

hi sisses! i have a question, usually how long does the h1b visa interview take dito sa US embassy? matagal ba? anong usual questions? may mga na-dedeny ba? and anong itsura ng h1b visa? is it like a b1/b2 visa?

sorry sobrang dami ng tanong! pero super thanks in advance dun sa mga sasagot!

[gnela_21]

hi sisses! i have a question, usually how long does the h1b visa interview take dito sa US embassy? matagal ba? anong usual questions? may mga na-dedeny ba? and anong itsura ng h1b visa? is it like a b1/b2 visa?

Well, same time frame din sya ng pagkuha ng B1/B2 visa kasi same procedure, yung interview itself lang ang may difference kasi yung work info ang i-ask sayo. Usual questions i think are about the your work, your employer, kung san place ka magwork. Pwede din nila ask yung background mo. I know some PT were asked PT questions din. Be prepared lang. I think may mga nadedeny din, pero bihira ako makarinig nun, more of an RFE lalo na kung kulang ang info. Be aware lang of the Neufeld Memo, baka din tanungin ka. Ang itsura nya, same lang ng B1/B2 visa, except na H1B yung nakalagay na type tapos may name ng employer sa baba ng visa. Hope this helps!

[gnela_21]

Haha pareho kayo nung isang friend ko sa Chicago, dumayo rin para makaiwas sa parallel parking ng downtown!

I think mas medyo lenient ata dito as compared sa MO, kasi yung husband ko dun sya unang kumuha ng DL, automatic talaga na kasama ang parallel park! Hanggang ngayon super sunga pa din ako mag-parallel park, buti di kami nakatira sa downtown, kundi yari!

[pretinnes]

Haha. Nakakarelate ako SIS gnela. Hirap din ako mag parallel park kaya minsan ayoko pumunta sa downtown Baka mapagalitan ako ng mga drivers.

[Inggay]

hi sisses! i have a question, usually how long does the h1b visa interview take dito sa US embassy? matagal ba? anong usual questions? may mga na-dedeny ba? and anong itsura ng h1b visa? is it like a b1/b2 visa?

sorry sobrang dami ng tanong! pero super thanks in advance dun sa mga sasagot!

Building on gnela_21's post, I know a few people who got denied during the H1 interview.  Yung isa, ninerbyos at hindi nakasagot sa work-related questions and yung isa naman hindi nag-match yung details sa contract doon sa info na pinrovide during application.  I guess you just have to be prepared and surely walang magiging problem.

[Inggay]

I think mas medyo lenient ata dito as compared sa MO, kasi yung husband ko dun sya unang kumuha ng DL, automatic talaga na kasama ang parallel park! Hanggang ngayon super sunga pa din ako mag-parallel park, buti di kami nakatira sa downtown, kundi yari!

Sa Pinas kasi bihira ang parallel parking kahit sa busy cities kaya hindi tayo sanay Sana sa MO hindi na ako i-require mag-driving test... kasi sa IL, according to my friend, basta over 10yrs since the PH DL was first issued ay written test na lang ang requirement.

[somethingreal]

^^ sis inggay thanks sa pag answer!