why fo i need a lawyer to file h1b visa?

by Arturo Cassin 10 min read

An immigration attorney who is experienced with H1B visas can be helpful in several ways: Advising the sponsor and worker on the overall process and timeline Managing expectations for selection in the lottery

If you are applying for an H1B visa for a potential employee or if your intended employer is seeking H1B status on your behalf, having a qualified immigration attorney will help ensure a smooth process.

Full Answer

Do I need an attorney to file an H1B visa petition?

What are the requirements for the H1B visa? There are many conditions to meet for an H1B visa. An immigration lawyer can help you determine if you meet these provisions. Our office can also help you organize evidence to prove eligibility. Please be aware that those working on an H1B could be subject to random site checks.

What is the H1B visa filing fee?

Mar 28, 2022 · Company X has more than 50 employees and has more than 50% of people on the H-1B visa. If they are filing for the H-1B visa with premium processing than they would be responsible for the base ($460), fraud fee ($500), training fee ( $1,500 if applicable), Public Law 114-113 fee ($4,000), premium processing fee ($2,500 if applicable), and ...

Can a foreign worker apply for an H1B visa without a sponsor?

FBAR Filing for H-1B Visa Holders. FBAR Filing for H-1B Visa Holders: The FBAR Filing for H-1B Visa Holder rules are more complex than they need to be.And, with the IRS continuing to take an aggressive position on matters involving foreign accounts compliance and unreported foreign income — compliance is crucial. When an H-1B visa holder meets the substantial presence …

Is an H-1B visa holder considered a U.S. person?

An H1B is not an easy task and should not be taken lightly. It’s vital that to have an attorney who pays attention to detail file your petition so that nothing is missed. Contact a law firm to handle your H1B for your own sake so the process goes smoothly. Since H1B cap is just around the corner I would suggest contacting them soon.

Do I need an attorney to file H1B?

A frequent question that comes up for foreign nationals that want to apply for an H1B visa position in the US is whether an immigration attorney is necessary. The short answer is no, since technically your sponsor will be taking care of the petition and application process.Jan 8, 2018

How much does a lawyer charge for H1B?

Attorney FeesCase TypeUSCIS FeesInitial Attorney FeeH1B (new)$460 + $1,500* + $500 (if applicable)Contact UsComplex H1B$460 + $1,500* + $500 (if applicable)Contact UsH1B (transfer, extension, amendment)$460 + $1,500* + $500 (if applicable)$1,400H-4 dependent (with H1B)$370$400

Can you file H1B by yourself?

You cannot apply for H1B Visa yourself as an individual. Only a company that has US operations and registered in the US can sponsor you an H1B visa.

How much does it cost for employer to file H1B?

Basic filing Fee To file an H1B petition using the I-129 form, the cost to the employer is $460. It is the employer's responsibility to pay the filing fee.Feb 18, 2022

Do lawyers qualify for H1B?

H-1B Visas (Person in Specialty Occupation): The professional must be hired in a specialty occupation that requires a Bachelor's degree or higher, or its equivalent. Examples of specialty occupations for H-1B visas include engineers, architects, lawyers, physicians, and other professional positions.

How much does fragomen charge for H1B?

H-1B: Extension and/or Amendment $460. 00 filing fee U.S. Department of Homeland Security EMPLOYER FEE • $1,000 Fragomen processing fee – Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP (Fragomen will invoice the department for this fee) -EMPLOYER FEE **Rush fees would be in addition, if applicable.

Who can sponsor me for H-1B visa?

Here are the top 15 companies that sponsor H-1B visas*, based on visas approved in 2020:Intel. 743 visas approved. ... Apple. 748 visas approved. ... Tech Mahindra. 861 visas approved. ... Wipro Limited. 1,003 visas approved. ... Accenture. 1,140 visas approved. ... 10. Facebook. 1,184 visas approved. ... IBM. 1,284 visas approved. ... HCL America.More items...•Aug 9, 2021

Can I apply for H-1B without a job?

No, this is not possible. To apply for this visa, you must have a job offer from a U.S. company or organization.

How do I file an H-1B application?

Here are the steps that employers need to go through to petition a foreign worker:Have a Labor Condition Application (LCA).File a petition with USCIS.Fill in form I-129.Submit the forms and the documents file.Wait for the review from USCIS.

Who pays for the H-1B visa fees?

the employerFiling Fees: According to the Immigration and Nationality Act and federal regulations, each of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) fees associated with an H-1B filing must be paid by the employer and cannot be borne by the H-1B employee.

Who pays for premium processing H-1B?

Premium Processing for the H1B Visa is a service provided by the Department of Homeland Security (USCIS) that offers 15 day processing time. The process involves submitting a completed and signed USCIS form I-907 and paying $2,500 payment to Department of Homeland Security.

Can employer ask for H-1B fees?

Sometimes, employers ask us, or employees offer to pay those fees and that's a real no-no. That's strictly prohibited by the regulations and current US law. An employer cannot ask an employee to pay those fees.

H-1B Visa Process

Once the USCIS approves the H-1B petition filed by the employer, the foreign worker can then get the H-1B Visa stamped at a U.S. embassy abroad or change status if he/she is already present in the U.S. The H-1B visa is granted for an initial 3 years period unless listed as a Chile or Singapore national.

H-1B Visa Requirements

The job offered must be filed as a “specialty occupation.” A specialty occupation orders for a bachelor’s degree or an advanced level of education certification. There are distinct positions that may not mandate a bachelor’s degree due to the complexity or particular listed duties.

H-1B Cap

Every fiscal year, the H-1B visa is limited by an annual cap of 65,000 visas. However, there are some applicants that are exempt from the cap. Beneficiaries with a U.S. masters degree or higher are exempt from the cap if it is filed among the first 20,000 petitions available.

H-1B Period of Stay

As an H-1B non-immigrant worker, you may be admitted for a period of up to three years. Your time period may be extended, but generally cannot go beyond a total of six years, though some exceptions do apply under sections 104 (c) and 106 (a) of the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act (AC21).

Why select our H-1B Visa Lawyers

Dedicated Immigration practice with specialization in business and employment immigration.

H-1B Attorney Fee

We charge a flat H-1B visa attorney fee of $2,100, which includes shipping and incidentals but does not include RFE responses, if applicable. In addition, you are responsible for the USCIS filing fees associated with your case.

What is H1B in the US?

The H1B allows foreign nationals to perform specialty occupations in the United States. This allows highly qualified individuals to work and live in the US. This benefits both the beneficiaries and the US economy.

What is an H1B visa?

The H1B is a special visa that allows foreign nationals to perform specialty occupations in the United States. This work can be in - but is not limited to - any of the following fields:

How many H1B visas are there?

One thing you should be aware of is the numerical limitation on H1B visas. Every year, 65,000 H1Bs are made available, with an additional 20,000 visas reserved for those with advanced degrees.

What is employer control in USCIS?

Control is the ability of the petitioner to determine when, where, and how the beneficiary completes his/her duties. USCIS will deny a petition if the beneficiary will not be an employee or report to the petitioner.

How long do you have to work to get an H1B visa?

Begin work in the United States. H-1B beneficiaries may arrive in the United States up to 10 days before the start date of their petition and stay up to 60 days (with some exceptions) after the termination of their H1B status. Upon arrival, you should present your passport, H1B visa, and Form I-797 approval.

What are the benefits of H1B?

One big advantage of H1B visa is the portability benefits. This means that if you are on an H1B and change employers, you can begin working for a different employer upon filing your new petition.

How long before I can apply for a visa can I apply for a visa?

Note that you cannot apply for a visa more than 90 days before the start date of the job . Upon scheduling a consular interview, the foreign national will meet with a US consular officer and show them their I-797 approval.

When will H1B be effective?

Instead, USCIS has decided to delay the rule’s effective dates until December 31, 2021.

When do you have to register for USCIS 2021?

Registration has only a few rules in order to avoid outright denial. Your registration must be submitted after March 9, 2021, at 12 p.m. est. and before March 25, 2021, at 12 p.m. est. USCIS will not accept registrations outside this window. Each sponsor may only submit one registration for each beneficiary.

When will the USCIS open for 2021?

The registration window will open on March 9, 2021, and end on March 25, 2021. Petitions will still be used, but only once a beneficiary has been selected in the lottery to make things more efficient.

How long does it take to get a refund from USCIS?

Premium processing is simply a way to expedite the process. The USCIS specifically ensures 15 calendar days for processing those petitions, or the USCIS will issue a refund of the service fee.

When does the lottery close in 2021?

At 12 p.m. EST on March 25, 2021, registration closes. USCIS conducts the lottery, starting with the regular cap and ending with the master’s cap. On or by March 31, 2021, USCIS notifies lottery winners. If your petition is selected, the earliest that you can file your petition is April 1st, 2021.

When will USCIS change to "selected"?

After March 11, 2021, some will change to “selected,” “denied,” or stay “submitted.”. If USCIS needs to increase the registrations for either cap during the remainder of the fiscal year, it will select more registrations from the “submitted” pool.

When can I file an I-129?

Selected: Your registration has been chosen in the lottery, and the sponsor can file an I-129 petition after April 1, 2021. It’s possible that USCIS may allocate different filing deadlines to selected registrants to ensure smooth processing of all cap-subject cases.

What is a FBAR 114?

Entities, Trusts and Estates may also have an FBAR filing requirement. The threshold for filing is when the filer has an “annual aggregate total” of more than $10,000 on any day of the year .

When is the FBAR due?

Unless the IRS and FinCEN change the current FBAR filing deadline rules, then the FBAR is due when your tax returns are due (April or June). But, the FBAR is on automatic extension through October.

What is a 1040NR?

When you reside outside of the United States (as a Non-U.S. Person) and you earn U.S. sourced employment income, you will generally file a 1040NR (“ Non-Resident”). Non-U.S. Person means that you are neither a U.S. Citizen, Legal Permanent Resident or Visa Holder who otherwise meets the IRS Substantial Presence Test.

How long do you have to be present to qualify for the substantial presence test?

IRS Substantial Presence Test generally means that you were present in the United States for at least 30 days in the current year and a minimum total of 183 days over 3 years, using the following equation: 1 day = 1 day in the current year.

Do you have to report FBAR on 8938?

FBAR requirements can be deceivingly complicated. While the form itself is not overly complex, and the due date is relative clear — the actual FBAR requirements are many. Some accounts may have to reported on the FBAR, which may not be required on other common forms, such as the Form 8938 (signatory accounts with no interest in the account). Likewise, while direct ownership of stock is not required to be included on the FBAR — a stock account may be required.

How long is the substantial presence test for 2014?

2014 = 120 days/6 = 20 days. Total = 130 days, so you would not qualify under the substantial presence test and NOT be subject to U.S. Income tax on your worldwide income (and you will only pay tax on money earned while working in the US).

Is FBAR filing complicated?

FBAR Filing can be complicated, depending on the specific FBAR Filing requirements of the filer. For example, if a person has one savings account in Taiwan, the reporting is not that bad. But, if a person has 50 accounts, life insurance, mutual funds, and foreign life insurance — the FBAR filing may be much more complicated.

When to file H1B petition?

Every beginning of the year reminds us it is time to start getting prepared to file your H1b visa petition on the 1st of April (the earliest they are accepted each year), as otherwise you run a greater risk of the application not being accepted by the USCIS. To be ready for this filing date, it is important that you obtain the prevailing wage and file the labor certification promptly, as it can take several weeks to get approved. If you or your employer need help with the filing of an H1b visa application, please call our office as soon as possible and make an appointment (617-523-6320, ext. 0) as this gives us the time to make sure that everything in the case is in order, to improve your chances of getting the visa approved. We can also make a telephonic appointment with your employer if he/she has any questions about sponsorship of this visa. The following is a list of Frequently Asked Questions we receive about filing H1b visa petitions:

Can a spouse work on an H1B visa?

If a spouse desires to work in the US, he/she must obtain independent work authorization through his/her own employment sponsorship or a different type of visa if they fulfill the visa’s eligibility requirements. See the immigration section of our site which provides eligibility requirements and information about different types of visas.

Can I get an H-1B visa with a bachelor's degree?

Foreigners with a bachelor degree, or its equivalent in work experience and specialized skills, are eligible for an H-1B visa ( their dependents are eligible for an H-4 visa). To apply for this visa you must have the following requirements:

When did USCIS change H1B filing?

USCIS changed their H1B petition filing process from FY 2021 season. In the new process, they introduced H1B Registration Process, where employers need to first register the H1B applicants or employees in the H1B Registration Online Tool, whom they intend to sponsor H1B to work in US.

Can an employer file an H1B petition?

If an applicant is selected in H1B registration process, then the corresponding applicant’s employer can file H1B Petition with USCIS. To submit H1B petition or application with USCIS, the H1B applicant need to submit the below documents to employer for preparing the petition and submitting the same to USCIS:

Do I need a lawyer to file an H1B petition?

It is the employer, not the foreign national who files the H1b petition. There is no requirement to have a lawyer if you are able to do it without help.

Who files H1B petition?

It is the employer, never the foreign national beneficiary, who files the H-1B petition. The "steps" and "procedure" are explained at the USCIS website. Your employer needs to look for and hire a lawyer. He/she can use the "find a lawyer" tap located right here on Avvo to find one.