[Nami]

I currently get a job at law firm as accountant. I would like to ask them to sponsor H1 visa for me( work permit). It is so complicated to me for the process. what should i begin?

I am international student F1 visa. I know there’s a fee for the process and I can even tell them to pay by myself. My question is that i heard that my friend need to pay for the attorney fees. Why would you hire a lawyer for the process? is it necessary ? i tried to look on the website and not sure which website is the formal one and being reliable ? I don’t know what to begin and what to do , to ask employer? has anybody experienced with this?

Illinois CPA 02/15

[tough_kitty]

First of all, how were they able to hire you if you don't have a work visa???

If they offer work visa, they should have told you AND they should have verified your right to work in the US before they offered you the job!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

First of all, how were they able to hire you if you don't have a work visa???

If they offer work visa, they should have told you AND they should have verified your right to work in the US before they offered you the job!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Anonymous]

For the year 2014 the H1B Visa Application deadline started on April 1st, 2013. You can see on the website below that the contingent of applications was reached after one week.

The next applications process starts on April 1st, 2014 for the year 2015. You can also find the fees on the USCIS websites. Mostly it depends on the size of the company which you plan to work for if they support the visa process or if you have to go through it by yourself.

https://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=4b7cdd1d5fd37210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=73566811264a3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD

[Anonymous]

For the year 2014 the H1B Visa Application deadline started on April 1st, 2013. You can see on the website below that the contingent of applications was reached after one week.

The next applications process starts on April 1st, 2014 for the year 2015. You can also find the fees on the USCIS websites. Mostly it depends on the size of the company which you plan to work for if they support the visa process or if you have to go through it by yourself.

https://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=4b7cdd1d5fd37210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=73566811264a3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD

[stoleway]

@tough_kitty

Graduates with F1 visa receives OPT, this allows you to be employed legally for a year without extension.

@Nami

It will be really difficult for a company to sponsor you for just an accounting job when there is a lot of unemployed citizen accountants in the country, but of course there is always a leeway if you have tight connections with the firm you work with.

Been there, done that and I know how hard it is.

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[stoleway]

@tough_kitty

Graduates with F1 visa receives OPT, this allows you to be employed legally for a year without extension.

@Nami

It will be really difficult for a company to sponsor you for just an accounting job when there is a lot of unemployed citizen accountants in the country, but of course there is always a leeway if you have tight connections with the firm you work with.

Been there, done that and I know how hard it is.

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[Anonymous]

I can't find a job in accounting in Illinois and somehow this student got one? *sigh* Just horrible. More proof that US Citizenship is a liability in the job market.

[Anonymous]

I can't find a job in accounting in Illinois and somehow this student got one? *sigh* Just horrible. More proof that US Citizenship is a liability in the job market.

[Anonymous]

Nami- I recommend talking with the human resources department at your job. Some employers will cover visa fees and/or the attorneys fees. It would be a lot easier to go through the H1 visa process with an immigration attorney. If you do it yourself, it is a long and tedious process. Also, if your employer will not pay the fees, they may recommend an attorney or have one on staff that may help. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Nami- I recommend talking with the human resources department at your job. Some employers will cover visa fees and/or the attorneys fees. It would be a lot easier to go through the H1 visa process with an immigration attorney. If you do it yourself, it is a long and tedious process. Also, if your employer will not pay the fees, they may recommend an attorney or have one on staff that may help. Good luck!

[Nami]

@auslaf @cessna Thanks for information. My company is a small firm and do not have HR. i think this is a long complicated process. if you have any recommend law firm?

Illinois CPA 02/15

[Nami]

@auslaf @cessna Thanks for information. My company is a small firm and do not have HR. i think this is a long complicated process. if you have any recommend law firm?

Illinois CPA 02/15

[lalap]

@Nami

My company used Seyfarth Shaw LLP for my H1B application. It also depends on your location.

Passed

[lalap]

@Nami

My company used Seyfarth Shaw LLP for my H1B application. It also depends on your location.

Passed

[impska]

I didn't do H-1B, but I did immigrate with a spousal visa. English is my first language, and I can say with certainty that I was capable of filling out all of the paperwork myself. That said, we did hire a lawyer and it made the process very smooth. Would I have been able to immigrate without a lawyer? Probably. But during the process, I heard many horror stories from people who were getting denied/delayed because of errors on their forms or general bureaucratic issues at USCIS.

Immigration attorneys know the process inside and out and they tend to know people inside USCIS who can un-stick the process if it gets stuck.

If you're already feeling confused about how to apply for an H-1B, then getting an attorney is the right thing to do – especially since there's a quota on how many H-1Bs are issued. If you screw up your application because you're confused about something, you'll lose your chance that that visa will go to someone else.

That said, you already work at a law firm. So start there. Tell them that you want them to sponsor you and see what they say. They may be willing to do the majority of the work for free. If not, they may be able to refer you to an immigration lawyer.

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[Author]

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