If you have been offered employment at the University of New Hampshire and the position qualifies for H-1B status, OISS will prepare and submit an application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on your behalf.
The H-1B visa is widely used in the U.S. for the temporary employment of foreign nationals. This status is used for the employment of foreign nationals in "specialty occupations," defined as those which "require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge requiring the attainment of a bachelor's or higher degree as a minimum for entry into the occupation."
H-1B non-immigrant status provides foreign nationals with permission to be employed in the United States for a specific period of time, for a specific employer, with a specific title, at a specific salary, at a specific location. The maximum period of stay for H-1B workers is 6 years, available in increments of up to three years. At the end of the six-year period, the foreign employee must either:
Obtaining approval of an H-1B petition will require many months. Premium Processing is available if you or your employing department is willing to pay an additional fee to USCIS. Although OISS will do its best to accomodate your needs, it is not within our power to circumvent the system or shortcut federal regulations. Therefore, it is imperative that you plan accordingly and submit the required information as quickly as possible.
The U.S. government has set certain standards for use of H-1B non-immigrant classification. The foreign employee must:
If you currently hold J-1 status (or have held it in the past), it is possible that you may be subject to a "Two-Year Home Residency Requirement." If you are subject to this requirement, you will not be able to obtain H-1B status until you:
In general, this requirement applies to those:
If you are subject to the requirement, this might be noted on your DS-2019 and/or your J-1 visa. In addition, you will need to apply for a waiver from the U.S. Department of State. Grounds for obtaining a waiver are limited, and even when successful, can take about one year to obtain.