H-1B filing season is upon us once again! Employers – it is a good time to now review your records to determine whether you have any post-graduate or current students working for you on an OPT-sponsored EAD who will need H-1B sponsorship for continued employment past the expiration of their temporary EAD cards. Foreign national employees – it is a good time to review your circumstances and reach out to your employers about potential sponsorship.

The H-1B program allows companies in the United States to “temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific specialty, or it’s equivalent.” H-1B specialty occupations may include fields such as science, engineering, and information technology, and fields such as teaching and accounting.

The process for this year’s H-1B filing includes an initial electronic registration followed by USCIS selection. Those registrations that are selected may then proceed to finalize and submit their applications for H-1B consideration.

Contact our office to discuss questions related to process, timing and eligibility. Do not wait until the last minute, there is work to be done in the here and now.