There are some instances where an employer in New Jersey may need the specialized expertise of an individual who lives outside the United States. If that’s the case, the employer should apply for an H-1B visa with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Here’s what you need to know about this process.
What is an H-1B visa?
An H1-B visa is a work visa for non-immigrants that allows them to work in the U.S. for a specific amount of time, up to a maximum of six years. The employer will petition the immigration office to hire a foreign worker for a job that requires a bachelor’s degree or higher. It can be in any field, including architecture, engineering, finance, IT, etc.
What makes one eligible?
If you are an employer petitioning for a non-immigrant prospective employee, the immigration office will require you to prove that there is no one in the United States who is qualified for the role you want to fill. Secondly, the person you want to hire must have documentation of their educational background relevant to the role. They must generally have a degree in their selected field; fashion models and other people with distinguished merits are also eligible for this visa, though.
H1-B visa cap
Since there are many people applying for this visa yearly, the government has put a limit to the number of foreigners who are allowed to work in the country per fiscal year. Currently, the cap is at 85,000, and a lottery is held to distribute these visas all over the country. If successful, your worker can use this visa for three years, at which time they may be able to renew it for another three years.
As an employer, you should know that the minimum salary for an H1-B visa worker is $60,000, but you can go as high as necessary depending on the value that the person is adding to your company. Moreover, having some work history with the person you are petitioning for puts you in a better position to get them a visa.
