Many people have had life-changing opportunities thanks to the United States, and as a result, many people want to visit the country. But if your goal is to work in the US temporarily, then the H-1B visa is the best option. This program is intended to help employers in the United States find skilled workers to fill specialty positions such as computer programming. As a computer programmer seeking an H-1B visa, you must meet specific requirements, which we will explain here, as well as how to obtain the visa.
H-1B visa Requirements for a Computer Programmer?
You have the knowledge and skills to do the job, or you would not be applying for a position as a computer programmer. A more important question is whether you meet the requirements established by USCIS, the agency in charge of the H-1B visa.
According to USCIS standards, a computer programmer must specialize in all aspects of programming required for software and applications to function properly. Writing code, modifying and testing it, and scripting formulas are all examples of this. Jobs in this category convert all designs created by software engineers and developers into coding that computers can use to produce the desired result.
If this sounds interesting, you may be eligible for an H-1B visa. Other requirements must be met, however, including:
-A bachelor’s degree or higher in a field directly related to the job opening; this degree must be comparable to those in parallel industries for other computer programmers in the United States.
-An approved Labor Condition Application (LCA) filed by the sponsoring employer with the Department of Labor (DOL), containing the terms and conditions of the employer-employee contract.
-Evidence from the employer that they attempted and failed to find qualified candidates for the position from a pool of qualified candidates in the United States.
-Proof that you have the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to perform the job duties outlined in the LCA.
When all of these requirements are met, the sponsoring employer must also be willing to pay the high fees associated with H-1B visa petitioning.
H-1B visa for computer Programmer in Numbers
The payment of the fees does not always guarantee that the visa will be approved. However, computer programming is a highly specialised industry, and petitioners are almost always approved. The approval rate has decreased slightly since 2015 when it was 99.09%. This rate will be 98.98% in 2022.
The employee must receive the average prevailing wage for the job, and it must be competitive, as part of the requirements for an H-1B visa. The amount you’re offered for an annual salary in computer programming is highly dependent on the company extending the job offer and the geographic region of the job. The average median salary ranges from $50,000 to $100,000, with New York, San Francisco, and Houston being the highest-paying cities.
What to Expect When Applying for an H-1B Visa
The processing time for any H-1B visa is determined by the specifics of your case, whether you’ve thoroughly completed all of the parts, and the service center handling your petition. A visa can take anywhere from one month to one year to fully process. The average wait time at the California and Nebraska service centers is 4.5 months. The average for the Vermont service center, on the other hand, is slightly more than a year.
If USCIS requests additional evidence, the processing time increases. The sooner you provide the requested information, the sooner they will continue to review your petition. When you work with immigration experts like Visadone, however, there is less chance of errors or requests for additional information.
Will the fees be paid by the sponsor?
The next factor to consider is whether the employer extending the job offer is aware of the fees involved. If they’ve ever hired an H-1B employee, they know it’s not cheap. The fees are borne by the sponsoring employer. The employee may only cover the $2,500 premium processing fee if the reason for expediting the request meets specific criteria.
A $10 registration fee, a basic filing fee, a Public Law fee, the USCIS Anti-Fraud fee, the ACWIA Education and Training fee, and any applicable attorney fees round out the fees.
What Comes Next?
Employers in the United States value computer programming as a skill. However, the Trump Administration has stated that USCIS officers may require additional proof of knowledge and skills for entry-level computer programming jobs. Allow Visadone to assist you in completing your H-1B visa journey to ensure your petition meets the requirements and avoids delays.
The new regulations increase the likelihood that computer-related positions will be subjected to a Request for Evidence (RFE). When you have Visadone on your side throughout the process, this delay becomes a minor inconvenience rather than a time-consuming headache.
Contact our Visadone experts before beginning the work required to hire an H-1B employee or find a sponsoring employer. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you make a career change and step outside of your comfort zone to improve your professional and personal life.