As mentioned before, employers can sponsor an immigrant worker via the employment-based visa program for professionals (E-BVP) or nonprofessional workers (H-1Bs). The employer submits a petition on behalf of the employee to prove that they want to hire them and that they are able to pay their bills while living in the country.
The second part of this process is proving that there are adequate numbers of qualified applicants available at the time of hiring. If there aren’t enough candidates, it is not uncommon for employers to negotiate higher salaries so that they find more people willing to move here. This could take some time as employers have to coordinate with other companies to make sure everything goes smoothly.
However, things may seem a little bit slower than usual during the H-1B season. There are several reasons why this happens, one of which is due to the high number of petitions being filed per company. Since most large corporations use professional services like Keller, Massey, etc., these firms will file many of the petitions for their employees.
This article will talk about what effects having a long processing period has on you as an employee, potential employee, and investor.
The second major factor in visa processing times is where your application is filed. Countries that require more time to process visas than others are those that use an e-visa system instead of the traditional paper visa format.
An e-visa is essentially online proof that you have been granted entry into a certain country. This makes it much easier for countries to verify that you actually belong there, as well as check if you overstated any information about yourself or the purpose of your visit.
However, this also means that things can take longer because they must first review the e-visa before granting you permission to enter their borders. Only then can you travel!
Another reason some nations may take longer is due to the sheer number of applications they receive. Some places get very many requests every year, and with the ever-increasing population and demand for tourism, that will only increase.
Not just anyone can apply for a working visa in another country, so there may be an initial screening process to make sure you really do want to live and work there.
The length of time it takes to process an H-2B visa is not just due to the immigration officer’s workload, but also depends on several other internal and external factors as well.
Internal factors include staffing levels, how busy your department or office is at any given moment, and whether there are additional steps in our processing system.
External factors come from outside sources such as their budget for certain functions, current seasonality (or lack thereof) for specific skills, and so forth. All of these things can have an effect on how long it takes to review and approve or deny your petition.
Some may even be unexpected!
We cannot predict what will happen during this process, which makes it hard to estimate how much time you should expect it to take. We recommend being aware of all the possible delays and having adequate preparation before proceeding with the application. This way you will know what to do if something happens.
The next thing you want to look into is whether or not you are able to help speed up the process. There are several things that may influence how long it takes for your visa to be approved.
First, make sure your documents are in order. If possible, organize all of your paperwork chronologically so that proof goes along with the most recent document type.
Make sure to update any social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using authentic information under your name. This way, we have access to past activity, making it easier to verify who you say you are.
If possible, only upload files once they’ve been verified as real. You don’t need a high-quality picture of yourself, just make sure it's clear and authentic. We recommend using Google Chrome when uploading documents because it has an easy option to check authenticity.
As mentioned before, if your visa is not approved within six months, you can appeal! There are two ways to do this. You can go through the U S Embassy in person or via mail. If you choose to go in-person, it is very important to make sure you have all appropriate documents ready as there will be an officer that interviews you during this visit.
If you decide to send your paperwork through the postal system, make sure you leave enough time to receive your response back from the embassy. It may take several weeks for them to get back to you.
It is also worth pointing out that even though most people fail to obtain their visas due to timing, some countries require one year of residency after admission.
If you have run into an issue with your visa process, your best bet is to begin gathering as much proof of employment eligibility as possible. This could include paystubs, letters from employers, receipts proving job searches, etc.
If you already have all this information and are still experiencing delays, you can bring these documents to our office so that we may help you determine what needs to be done next. We will also let them know about the status of your case so they can keep track of it.
One of the biggest hurdles to moving forward with your international relocation is having your visas ready! This includes getting a work permit, an HG visa, and sometimes even a tourist visa!
Making sure that you are prepared for these visits can be tricky because each country has their own process when it comes to visa applications. Some take longer than others, but there’s nothing you can do about this except be prepared and know your options.
There are several ways to make sure that you don’t have to reapply or start the process over again, but only if you know what they are. The best way to find out is by doing some research and talking to people who have relocated recently.
We recommend staying in close contact with friends and family members back home while you're waiting for approvals, as well as looking into community resources such as International Moving Companies.
Even though you already have proof of employment, additional documents can be needed when filing an extension. This is not always due to changing circumstances, but because officials may want to confirm your commitment as well as job potential.
Documents that are required depend on how long you will remain in the country. If it’s longer than six months, then working and housing permits must be verified. Beyond that, there’s no general rule. It all depends on individual agencies and countries.
Finding out what documentation is required for an extension can take some time, so make sure you don’t over-extend yourself by looking too far ahead. Don’t wait until the last minute to gather these things!
If possible, we recommend gathering as much evidence as you can two weeks before the deadline. That way, you’ll have enough time to compare notes with colleagues, look up old emails, and find out who handles which paperwork in which offices.
Your chances of being granted a visa extension improve if you do this early on.
Even though you have already submitted your documents, you are not finished! You must also send your passport to a consulate for approval. Some consulates will be more prompt in reviewing applications than others, but most take around two weeks – sometimes even longer.
It is important to remember that although there’s no set time frame to receive an H-1B visa, it cannot be processed without the resident certificate (RC) and employment letter (EL) from your sponsoring employer.
If these materials are not received by USCIS within a certain timeframe, then your application can be put on hold until they are. However, this only applies during the initial stages of processing your petition — after that, it will move forward quickly.
