How to Secure H1B Visa Sponsorship: A Comprehensive Guide

The H-1B visa allows skilled professionals to relocate and work in the US. For employers, this is a perfect option for finding the right talent for their team. Although highly competitive, it is very rewarding for workers and employers. This guide provides crucial information on who is eligible, how to find H1B visa sponsorship jobs on Jooble and how to apply correctly.

H-1B Overview

It is one of the work visas that allow graduate-level professionals to work in the USA. It will enable employers to find talent outside the country and hire them. The idea is to cover any skill gaps in the US work market. It is crucial to remember that an H-1B visa is for skilled and educated experts who work in specific fields. Usually, they must have at least a Bachelor's degree or experience that corresponds with this level of knowledge. The most common fields for H-1B applicants are:

• Engineering;
• Healthcare (Surgeons, Nurses, Psychologists, Dentists, etc); 
• IT and Computer Science; 
• Accounting and Finance; 
• Science (Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, etc); 
• Law; 
• Analytics.
  

If you are educated and experienced in one of those fields, you might consider relocating to the US to work there. After all, many more opportunities for career growth and salary ranges might be open there. The requirements for employees are:

• Your job occupation must require special skills and education;
• You must have at least a BA in this field (alternatively, an equivalent experience in the field); 
• You must find an employer in the US that will file an application and sponsor it (W-2 position).

The employer must ensure the prevailing wage for such a job and file the LCA (Labor Condition Application) with the Department of Labor. This is a very competitive visa, and it is not easy to get. Here is how it works: There is a maximum number of annual applications—65,000. Master's Degree holders have another 20,000 spots. So, only 85,000 applications enter the lottery pool every year. Moreover, from 2024, one person can be submitted only once by one employer with their passport number. It eliminates multiple entries and ensures more fair competition. After that, USCIS holds a lottery that randomly selects applications (there is also a limited amount of winners) that can proceed further.

Important note:

There are exemptions to the cap on the number of applications. They include professionals who have been capped in the last six years (for instance, if you already work on an H-1B visa). Also, experts working in Higher Education, non-profit entities, government research organizations, or non-profit research organizations. These specialists bypass the lottery process.

Pros and Cons of this Visa

The advantages for the employer are quite direct—they can fill the gap in their team with a high-level professional. Often, companies opt for this process because they cannot find the right person for a position locally, so it is only natural to look outside of the country. The main con is that the company has to sponsor the application process and file a lot of documents. And there is always a risk of not winning the lottery. What about employees? One should consider both pros and cons based on their individual interests. The advantages are:

• An opportunity to find a high-paying position with great benefits and career opportunities;
• An option to relocate to the US and potentially stay there by applying for other types of visas, green cards, and eventually, citizenship; 
• The salaries in the US are often higher than in many other countries; 
• Professionals on such a visa can change their visa status and find a new employer who is willing to file an H1-B transfer petition; 
• Start a company later and file H-1B for yourself through it; 
• Your children under 21 can relocate with you;
• Visa holders can apply for work authorization for their spouses with Form I140.

So what are the cons? First, moving to another country is a huge change and can be difficult for many people. It takes time to adjust to new circumstances, make new connections, and feel at home. Secondly, the process is long and tiresome, and success is not guaranteed. However, if you are focused on achieving success, it is totally worth it. Another con to remember is that if you receive an H-1B while working in higher education or non-profit research organizations, you cannot easily change employers.

Application Process and How it Works

The process involves the employee and the employer, so they must work together. As a professional, you first need to find a US employer who will sponsor your application. Only after securing future employment can you start the process. At this stage, the employee must start collecting essential documents, and the employer must ensure that the job follows the speciality occupation regulations. After that, the steps are as follows:

1. The employer determines the rate (it must be within the average for such a job). A company can use PWD or NPWC to do it correctly.
2. The employer notifies the US workers about the decision thirty days before filing the LCA. It must follow the 20 C.F.R. §655.734 requirements. The information in the notice includes how many H-1B employees a company wants to hire, their occupational classification, proposed salaries, employment period, and employment location. A company can do it in a hardcopy worksite or electronic notice. 
3. After that, the company submits the LCA to the Department of Labor to get certification for such employment. 
4. Upon certification, the company registers for an annual lottery with the USCIS.
5. If the application wins the lottery, the employer must submit a completed I-129 Form to the USCIS. 
6. The employee can now apply for a visa or admission in their country of current residence with a copy of Form I-797. 
7. An employee arrives in the US, and the company follows the Form I-9 hiring procedures.

How to Find a Sponsorship Employer

The employer is responsible for most of the application process's hassle. They also pay almost all of the related fees. Usually, those are $215 for registration, $4,000 for the public law fee, $780 for the I-129 Form, $500 for the USCIS anti-fraud fee, $750-1,500 for the ACWIA education and training fee, and some attorney fees. If the employer decides to proceed with premium processing (fast track), it will cost around $2,800. Considering all of that, finding a company willing to invest its time and money in a professional can be difficult. Yet, it is not impossible. There are several steps to take.

Look through the H-1B visa Database

The USCIS database offers information on employers who successfully hired professionals from other countries through this process. Such businesses already know how to do it correctly and usually are much more willing to hire international professionals. For instance, H1BGrader.com makes it easy to search for potential sponsors based on the state, city, job title, or company name. Create a list of potential employers related to your profession. Check whether they are hiring or open to talent right now.

Search through Job Aggregators

You can also look for potential employers on Jooble. It is a job aggregator that collects openings from all over the internet in one place. There are offers covering H-1B sponsorships and companies looking for professionals from other countries. Various filters based on job title, state, salary expectations, etc., make the search easy. You can also apply directly from there.

Find an Internship

This option is suitable for those who are already studying in the USA. F1 visa students can find internships in CPT, STEM OPT, or OPT to gain industry experience. Later, you can look for employers who offer internships with H-1B sponsorship.

Work in Global Consulting Companies

Alternatively, you can find a global consulting company that operates internationally. They usually have a lot of employees who are already H-1B holders. However, it is essential to negotiate the sponsorship during the hiring process to ensure it is guaranteed. There might be a line of professionals waiting for their turn, so you need to be proactive about it.

Conclusion

Although it is not easy, H-1B visa offers many great opportunities for skilled workers. The majority of application work falls on the employer, but the thing is, you need to find them first. Make sure your resume is up to date and looks right. Explore opportunities online and look into companies with a history of H-1B hires.

Be proactive and apply to those that meet your qualifications and needs!

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We overland. We eat plants and fungi. We live outside as much as possible. We are all connected. A female travel blogger overlanding and writing about ecotourism, ethical and sustainable travel, socially conscious travel and housesitting. An online travel magazine since 2015.