H-1B Alternatives
With the demand for the H-1B visa far exceeding the cap, it is important to know the H-1B alternatives available to HR professionals and employees.
According to the USCIS, there were 172,500 applications filed between April 1, 2014 and when the cap closed on April 7. The cap is set at 65,000, with another 20,000 available to individuals with advanced degrees. Which means roughly 50% of H-1B petitions will be not be accepted.
One alternative to the H-1B visa is the H-1B1 visa.
The H-1B1 Visa
The H-1B1 visa is essentially the same as the H-1B visa, but is exclusively for citizens of either Chile or Singapore.
To be eligible for the H-1B1 visa you need to have a U.S. Bachelor’s degree or the foreign equivalent. The open position you are looking to fill must be a “specialty occupation” that requires specialized knowledge obtained through a bachelor’s degree.
Another benefit of using an H-1B1 visa as one of your H-1B alternatives is that you can bypass the USCIS and apply directly at the U.S. consulate abroad. Applying at the U.S. consulate can shorten the wait for your approval notice. Typically, H-1B1 visas are issued for 12 months at a time but extensions are available through the through USCIS via Form I-129.
If you are a citizen of Singapore or Chile the H-1B1 might be one of the H-1B alternatives you may want to consider.
