From: Bela Ban < >
Date: Wed, 09 Feb 2000 09:39:13 -0500
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Status: RO

Hi Oliver,

I'm currently going through the process of getting an H1B. I have been in the US
on a J1 for the last 2 years.
Here's what I've been told:
There are 3 categories of H1s: as a PhD plus beeing European, you're in the
highest category. This means they have to do fewer checks to prove that they
cannot find an American to do your work (skilled worker cat). You just have to
prove that you have a PhD.
There are quotas on each country, India seems to have reached the cap already,
for Chinese it takes forever because of the theft of nuclear secrets.
The new category starts each year on Oct 1 on a FCFS basis for each category. I
heard (but could not get it confirmed) that bigger companies have fewer problems.
Last year the H1's were finished by May, this year there was a lot of talk that
they were going to be used up by January, but now it looks more like April.
Anyway, if you apply for an H1, do it before October this year, to be on the safe
side. But I also heard that Congress will double (or even triple) the number of
H1s.
Still, the INS have to process the huge number of visas with the same number of
people, which makes the process of getting an H1 a long one. I heard if you file
with an INS in California, it'll take as much as half a year...
Hope this helps !

--
Bela Ban
bela_at_somm.com
+41 71 666 77 40
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