F1 AND H1B VISAS

F1 STUDENT VISAS

Students who wish to study in the U.S. must first apply for an F1 visa. Each school or institution will have a Designated School Officer who can also assist you with this process. Recent changes in the law have made getting an F1 visa a more lengthy and complicated process, especially for non-citizens who already reside in the U.S.

The Optional Practical Training program that allows eligible F1 students to work can also be difficult to navigate. While your college or university is a great first stop, we at Gardner Gordon recommend that you schedule a consultation with our team if you have questions about how to change your status, your current work eligibility, OPT extensions, or any other issues that could affect your immigration status in the future.

H-1B Specialty Occupation Visas

H-1B visas are one of the best-known and most sought after nonimmigrant visas. These “work visas” require an offer of employment from a U.S. company for a job in a specialty occupation that requires a bachelor’s degree or higher. H-1B specialty occupations include jobs in various fields, such as:

• Chemistry

• Physics

• Mathematics

• Computer science

• Engineering and information technology

• Economics

• Education

• Accounting

No more than 65,000 new H-1B visas are authorized each fiscal year. There are an additional 20,000 visas available for people with a U.S. master’s degree or greater. As a result of the high demand for this limited number of visas, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) holds a lottery to select applicants for consideration.

H-1B visa holders may bring their spouses and children with them to the U.S. The status is valid for up to 6 years and holders may change jobs while in the U.S., as long as their new employer is willing to sponsor them.

The requirements for the H-1B visa are complex and the regulations difficult for employers and employees to navigate.