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Prodigy Finance - October 30, 2019
Landing a job and an H-1B visa can be a long, stressful process. Once you finally have both, all you’ll want to do is celebrate.
But, what happens if you want to, or must, change jobs?
Changing jobs on an H-1B visa is permitted, but there’s a process that you’ll have to follow. For an H-1B job change, you’ll need to secure a new H-1B visa, following the same steps as you did with your initial application:
So, the good news is that switching jobs on an H-1B visa is legal and you can go for an H-1B job change once you and your new employer have completed the application process. However, you must be careful to file the correct paperwork at the correct time or you could find yourself out of status.
H-1B visas are issued to foreign workers, but the conditions of that visa tie the employee to a specific sponsoring employer. And, transferring H-1B visas to new employers isn’t permitted; you’ll need a whole new visa.
Although you can’t transfer your sponsor-specific visa to a new employer, many people informally refer to the process of changing jobs on an H-1B visa as an H-1B transfer.
The H-1B transfer procedure does not actually involve any transfer. For a job change, you’ll need to file a new H-1B visa petition and go through the entire process. (Actually, it’s your new employer, acting as your sponsor, that files your application).
The H-1B transfer time ranges from 1 to 4 months once your application has been submitted, although you can streamline the process for an additional fee.
Having an H-1B transfer checklist can help you keep a tab on what documents you need to submit, and can ensure that you don’t miss out on anything or fill-in the wrong paperwork. The documents you require for the process of an H-1B job change include your Labour Condition Application (LCA), Form I-129, your education degree and mark sheets, most recent entry to US immigration stamp, most recent I-94, and last three pay slips, among others.
Thankfully, since you already have a visa and are in the United States, the H-1B transfer process is a little easier:
In addition, you don’t need to inform your current employer that you’ve filed a petition for an H-1B job change.
As with your initial application, your employer goes through the steps of the H-1B transfer procedure and submits the petition on your behalf. Of course, there will be several questions you’ll need to answer and supporting documents you may need to supply (such as your CV, proof of your degree and related information).
TIP: Get your own legal expert
Usually, the lawyer handling your H-1B visa paperwork was hired by the company you work for. He (or she) isn’t your lawyer; he’s your company’s lawyer. If you’re having trouble with your employer, you can’t go to him or her for legal advice.
If you need or want a new job, and you’re working on an H-1B visa, you should seek help from an independent immigration attorney - one that hasn’t been hired by your company.
Unlike your initial application, you can apply for an H-1B visa to work at a new employer at any time of the year and you may begin working at your new job as soon as you have confirmation that your application has been received. In other words, an H-1B job change can happen once you successfully submit your application.
However, you may want to consult your immigration lawyer before making the move, as you may find yourself out of status if your petition isn't approved and you're already at your new company.
Porting is when you start at a new employer while your new H-1B petition is still pending - and it’s perfectly legal.
H-1B visa porting - what to watch out for:
No, not automatically.
A new H-1B visa petition doesn’t reset the total time for your H-1B visa back to zero; the time you spend working for any employer on an H-1B visa counts against the total time you have to work on this visa class.
But, it is possible to apply for more time than you currently have when filing a new petition for an H-1B job change.
If you’re near the end of your authorised stay, filing a new H-1B petition will not give you extra time unless it’s specifically approved and you may also want to file for an extension to your existing H-1B while your new petition is in processing.
When multiple H-1B visa petitions are filed on your behalf at the same time, this is known as bridging. Up until the point that your I-94 expires, you can submit as many new petitions as you wish. As soon as the return date on your 1-94 card expires, outstanding petitions are nullified.
H-1B bridge petitions allow you to accept a job with a new employer even if another employer has already submitted an H-1B “transfer” to their company beforehand. Essentially, you get the freedom to keep looking for your perfect position, even after you’ve accepted an existing offer.
If you’re fired while on an H-1B visa, you don’t have to panic and pack up your house. You have up to 60 days to find new employment, or apply for a change of status, before you violate your visa terms.
Your quick tips for an H-1B job change:
If you remain employed with the same employer but there is some material change in the terms of your employment, you might be required to file an H-1B amendment petition. Take a look at what constitutes a material change, and when you’ll be required to file for an H-1B amendment.
Need funding for your masters abroad?
Prodigy Finance can help you with that. We provide student loans for an international masters education.
The purpose of this guide is to provide prospective students with an overview of the application process for a US student visa and should not be regarded as legal or immigration advice or as a substitute for the official information published by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) from time to time or any instructions and/or advice provided by US embassies and consuls. Whilst we have carefully compiled the guide in accordance with the information published by USCIS, Prodigy Finance Limited does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, mistakes, omissions or outdated information in the guide and we encourage prospective students and other readers to consult the USCIS’s website at https://www.uscis.gov. Prodigy Finance Limited is not authorized by the Department of Justice (DOJ)'s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) to provide immigration services and will not provide any additional information or assistance to any person to apply for a US student or other category visa.
Post updated for accuracy and freshness on October 30, 2019. Originally published on July 24, 2019.
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