Last Call for New H-1B Visa Applications

APRIL 1st FILING DEADLINE IS ONLY TWO WEEKS AWAY!

If you have a recent college graduate working for you on F-1 or OPT status they can only do so for 1-year post-graduation (or 29 months if they graduated with a STEM degree). After their post-graduation visa expires they will not be able to work in the U.S. unless they have work authority through other means (most likely another visa). The H-1B visa is the most common visa for new grads but the window to apply for it is only open for a few days every year.

IF YOU MISS THIS DEADLINE YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO APPLY FOR NEW H-1B VISAS AGAIN UNTIL APRIL 1, 2019

This year the allotment of visas is 65,000, plus an additional 20,000 for prospective employees who obtained their Master’s Degree from a U.S. university. Note that 6,800 of the visas from the pool of 65,000 are set aside for residents of Singapore and Chile. Distribution of the annual allotment begins on October 1, 2018. The filing deadline for all applications, however, is April 1, 2018.

Timing is critical, as applications received before April 1, 2018 are rejected. Additionally, once the government calculates enough applications have been received to fill the quota they close intake. Last year they closed it after just a few days meaning applications received only a few days after April 1 were rejected as being too late.

THE DEADLINE IS ONLY FOR NEW H-1B VISA

The cap only applies for new H-1B visa applications. If you are looking to hire someone who has already been granted an H-1B visa (in the past 6 years), you can apply for an H-1B visa at any time.  

Thompson Coe offers all immigration services. Please call (844) 291-1540 with any questions or if you need assistance applying for any visa or green card.

Thompson Coe and myHRgenius Tip of the Week is not intended as a solicitation, does not constitute legal advice, and does not establish an attorney-client relationship.