The Trend in Highly Skilled H-1B Visa Holders
The H-1B is one of many categories of visas allowing foreign nationals to enter the US for various purposes. However, the H-1B is designed specifically for employers wishing to hire outside workers to complete a gap that qualified US workers can’t fill and for those in other countries who wish to fill that position.
Since its inception, this category has risen in popularity to become the most dominant type of visa. Data analysis shows that countries like India and China have the majority of H-1B and H-4 (spouses and unmarried children) visas annually.
What the H-1B Does for Highly Skilled Workers
One major downside of the H-1B visa is that its holders are limited to two three-year periods, for a total of six years in the US. In short, it’s temporary. So why is this category so in-demand for highly skilled workers who can likely find long-term jobs elsewhere?
The answer lies in the many other advantages the visa gives workers and their families. Skilled professionals and businesspersons holding this document are legally allowed to enter the country, obtain work in potentially higher-paying positions, and receive benefits like insurance, paid vacations, and other common perks given to US citizens.
Unlike other visa categories, the H-1B lets those who qualify bring their families with them, too. Spouses and unmarried dependents receive an H-4 visa that allows them to enter the country and apply for permission to work and go to school in the country.
USCIS Watches Out for the Worker and the US Economy
Another advantage for highly skilled foreign workers is that they receive comparable wages as those in similar positions in the country. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’ job is to ensure bringing in workers from other countries won’t adversely affect the conditions of the native workers.
To do this, the department follows rigid policies that benefit the US and the highly skilled individual. These policies include attestations from the employer that the worker will receive a wage that is equal to or greater than the prevailing wage for that position. The employer must also undergo a series of requirements that prove they attempted to hire a qualified US national and were unable to do so successfully.
These and other attestations work for the benefit of the individual rather than the employer and prevent companies from hiring foreign labor at discounted wages, a major concern in US political realms.
What’s Next?
Because the H-1B visa is geared toward highly skilled workers who are knowledgeable regarding in-demand fields, the category is necessary but not easy to attain. Competition is fierce, dates are rigidly set, and qualifications are rigorous.
These factors are why countless employers and non-immigrant workers use Visa2US to streamline the petition process. Our highly skilled legal experts know the best paths to help you reach your goal and can simplify this complex undertaking. Contact us today, and let us take the hassle out of handling government paperwork.
