What is the H-1B visa and who is eligible for it?

The H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa for foreign people who wish to work temporarily in the United States. It is a very popular visa for immigrants who are looking to work in certain specialty occupations, particularly those in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). In order to be eligible for an H-1B visa, applicants must have an offer of employment from a US employer, which must be a for-profit business or organization, meaning that non-profit organizations are not eligible to participate in the program. The offered position must also be a specialty occupation, which requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, for entry into the job. The employer must file a petition for a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the U.S. Department of Labor, which will certify the wages and working conditions of the position. After the LCA is approved, the employer will then file a petition for a visa with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The USCIS will review the petition and supporting documentation, such as evidence of the applicant’s qualifications and the employer’s ability to pay the prevailing wage for the occupation. Once the petition is approved, the applicant can then apply for the visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. The visa application process is fairly straightforward and requires a personal interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. After the visa is approved, the applicant can then enter the United States and begin working in their specialty occupation.

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El visado H-1B es un visado temporal de trabajo que otorga a los trabajadores extranjeros que deseen trabajar en los Estados Unidos. El visado H-1B es un visado de trabajo de tres años, pero se puede extender por un máximo de seis años. Los trabajadores elegibles para el visado H-1B deben tener por lo menos un título académico a nivel de licenciatura o una carrera equivalente. Los empleadores deben mostrar que el trabajo para el que se contrató al trabajador H-1B requiere un grado académico específico para el puesto. El empleador también debe verificar que el salario ofrecido al trabajador H-1B es igual o superior al salario establecido por el mercado para ese puesto. Las empresas de Pensilvania que deseen solicitar un visado H-1B para un trabajador extranjero deben presentar una solicitud a la Oficina de Ciudadanía e Inmigración (USCIS) de los EE. UU. Para obtener más información sobre el visado H-1B, los empleadores pueden consultar el sitio web de la USCIS o comunicarse con un abogado local especializado en temas de inmigración.

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