Understanding the H-1B visa and the U.S. visa process

Note:  Weve made every effort to ensure that the information in this article is  correct at time of publishing. However, because visa and immigration laws are complex and ever-changing, please check the U.S. Department of State or U.K. Home Office website for the most up-to-date information on visa requirements. With immigration reform high on the U.S. political agenda and the cap on H-1B visas remaining fixed despite rising demand, many highly skilled workers from overseas with job offers in the U.S. are struggling to secure a visa. The good news is that there are many options available to those seeking to gain legal status to work in the U.S., and we see many students overcome the arduous visa process and H-1B lottery every year. Understanding the cap The H-1B is the visa that enables foreign specialist talent to be temporarily employed in the U.S. Applications for these visas are continuing to rise year on year; in 2014, over 170,000 people applied. However, the cap remains fixed at 65,000 with an additional 20,000 available for those with a U.S. Master’s degree or higher. This causes around 50% of otherwise eligible applicants for the H-1B to miss out on the opportunity to work in the U.S. Overcoming the trap The process of applying for the H-1B visa itself, like many employment visas, is complicated, both for the employer and the employee. Getting a thorough understanding of the requirements of the H-1B can be a lengthy and confusing process and it’s worth consulting an immigration attorney to get this right. It’s vital that you have a thorough understanding of the requirements, including what documents you’ll need to supply, and the process for filing your application. There are also several other options you can consider as a foreigner trying to enter the U.S. job market. Firstly, if you’re already studying in the U.S., you can apply for OPT (Optional Practical Training) which allows you to work in the U.S. for a year after graduation to gain practical training in a field that is related to your studies. This is a popular option for many students on our U.S. campuses and our Visas and Compliance teams run workshops to support them through the process. Secondly, the H-1B is not your only visa option. There are several visas you can apply for to allow you to work temporarily in the U.S. Some are limited to designated countries and may have a long wait time attached to them. Conditions may also not be as attractive as those of the H-1B, which offers three years stay plus three years extension. Lastly, it can pay to play the long game. The U.S. might be your ultimate destination country, but it doesn’t mean you have to go straight from studying in the U.S. to working in the U.S. In fact, you may accelerate your career if you look at jobs in other markets first, with a plan to return to the U.S.later. The L-1 visa allows multinational employees to transfer into the U.S. after one year of work in another country. Even U.S.-educated students who are successfully employed on OPT may choose not to pursue the H-1B and instead leverage their U.S. degree and work experience in their home country or another ‘hot market’ country. After one year of work outside of the U.S., you may be eligible to transfer back into the U.S. on an L-1 visa. Currently there are no caps on the L-1, so it gives foreign workers much more predictability and control of their work life. So where can you go to for help with this complex, high-stake process? Consulting an immigration attorney is the sensible thing to do; they are specialists and will know all the ins and outs of the process and be able to advise you about all of your options. Tools like VisaNow also offer help navigating the visa process for both employers and employees. If you’re a business student, your school’s Career Services and Visas and Compliance Offices will be able to offer guidance. As a global business school with students of more than 140 nationalities and seven locations across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and China – we are intimately familiar with visa requirements and processes, in both the U.S. and the rest of the world. We work closely with our students to ensure that they are fully informed of all their options, advise them on where the best opportunities are, and support them in their efforts to enter the local job market. Having some fun with the app One Hult alum who has had success with the H-1B visa is now hoping to bring an element of fun to the process of researching visa options. Piyush Mishra, a Hult MBA alumnus from the Class of 2012, is in the early stages of developing an innovative new gaming app called GetVisa to provide an entertaining solution to finding out about U.S. visas. The app aims to help with understanding the U.S. visa process, exploring other visa options outside of the H-1B, and understanding what you need to do prior to starting an application, by simulating the process in a first-person role-play. Piyush came from his home country of India to pursue his MBA at Hult’s San Francisco campus in 2011 and secured a job as a business analyst at the headquarters of the multinational banking and financial services company, Wells Fargo. After his initial H-1B application was unsuccessful, Piyush continued his studies in the U.S. and was able to successfully be sponsored on an H-1B the following year. Using the knowledge gained from his own experience with the U.S. immigration system, Piyush aims to take the pain out of the visa process for other overseas workers by giving them a fun and light-hearted way to educate themselves. International visa requirements and U.S. career playbook If you would like to find out more about Hult’s global business programs,  download a brochure here. Helpful links to more information: H-1B visa application process: H1 Base H-1B visa requirements:USCIS Visa Guide (H-1B Specialty) L1 visa information: USCIS Temporary Workers U.S. temporary worker visas overview: U.S. State Gov. Temporary Visa Overview Online tools to help with visa application process: VisaNow Piyush Mishra and the GetVisa app:   GetVisa aims to make the visa process fun Hult offers a range of highly skills-focused and employability-driven business school programs including a range of MBA options and a comprehensive one year Masters in International Business. To find out more, take a look at our blog My Masters in International Business: Looking back on a life-changing year. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .