Total Period of Stay on H-1B Work Visa and Return Transportation Cost

 

As an H-1B nonimmigrant, you may be admitted for a period of up to three years. Your time period may be extended, but generally cannot go beyond a total of six years, though some exceptions do apply under sections 104(c) and 106(a) of the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act (AC21).

Your employer will be liable for the reasonable costs of your return transportation if your employer terminates you before the end of your period of authorized stay.  Your employer is not responsible for the costs of your return transportation if you voluntarily resign your position. You must contact the Service Center that approved your petition in writing if you believe that your employer has not complied with this requirement.

[Source: USCIS]

New To USA on H-1B–Important Things To Do

 

• Get Your Social Security Number and Card
  
• Start Building Your Credit History / Rating / Score - Bank Account – ATM/Debit and Credit Cards
  
• Job Hunting on H-1B Work Visa
  
• Preparing Your Resume / CV
  
• Create Dice Profile, Recruiter’s Response, Selecting Mobile Carrier, Billing and Package, Voice Mail Settings, Leaving Messages
  
• Understanding Employment Types and Tax Terms
  
• Preferred Vendor, Direct Client and Subcontracting
  
• Initial Screening, Telephonic and Face to Face Interviews
  
• Finding an Apartment on Rent
  
• International Driving Permit, Foreign Driver License, Interim Permit and Learner Permit

Job Hunting in USA on H-1B–Initial Screening, Telephonic and Face to Face Interview

 

Usually the selection process starts with Initial Screening by the recruiter. In initial screening, recruiter will call you on your phone and will go through your resume/cv verifying what you’ve mentioned in your resume/cv regarding your education background and work experience.

Recruiter might also setup a first telephonic interview with one of the technical staff member from recruiter’s technical interviewer’s panel, to make sure you score well in end client’s interview.

Technical interviews, be they telephonic or face to face, can include:

• Typical What-is questions – What is OOP?
• Copy-paste bookish questions – How IoC is different from DI?
• Real-life troubleshooting questions
• Scenario based problems

[ Click to view list of topics for Java Developer roles (under section “Selection and Interview Process” ]

Make sure you know every single thing that you’ve mentioned in your resume/cv.

Make sure you state clearly, if you are guessing some thing and are not sure about it, honesty is very very important in such interactions.

It is recommended to always go for the face to face interview option; it is far more effective than telephonic or video interviews. You can communicate more effectively when you are interacting directly, you can make long lasting impression, you can establish more effective connections.

Job Hunting in USA on H-1B–Preparing your Resume/CV

 

You should have to two sets of Resume/CV – a brief one and a detailed one. Wherever you apply, you should use your brief Resume/CV. If, they need more detail, they’ll ask you and then you can send them the detailed one.

You should not mention any personal information in your resume – like:

• Date of Birth
• Age
• Nationality
• Religion
• Race/Cast
• Passport#
• Marital Status
• Languages

As for your educational background – use terms that are known in USA. For example:

In USA	In Pakistan
School - Grades 1 - 5	Primary
School - Grades 6 - 8	Middle
School - Grades 9 & 10	Matric / Matriculation / SSC / O-Level
School - Grades 11 & 12	Inter / Intermediate / HSC / A-Level / FSC / FA

Do not mention the location of your School/College/University. For example:

B.S (Computer Engineering) in 2001 from Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan.

Similarly, in your work experience, do not mention the location of your workplace. For example:

Java Developer – May, 2001 to Mar, 2003 – Al Ghanem Net LLC, Karachi Pakistan.

If you have worked in companies who are known globally or in USA or have a representation in USA, then also mention them. For example:

Senior Software Engineer II – Northstar Technologies Inc. (Sibisoft Pvt Ltd)

Make sure, you have clearly mentioned following in your work experience:

• What role you played in each of the projects you worked on
• What technologies and tools you used in each of the projects

Make sure you’ve mentioned your primary email and mobile/cell number clearly on your resume/cv.

In USA on H-1B–First Thing First–Your Social Security

 

The first thing you should do is to get enroll for Social Security.

You need a Social Security number to get a job, collect Social Security benefits and receive some other government services. But you don't often need to show your Social Security card. Do not carry your card with you. Keep it in a safe place with your other important papers. [Source – SSA]

You only need I-94 and your original Passport, which will be a proof of your Age and your Identity, which is required to file an application for Social Security Number/Card.

You can locate the SSA offices or affiliates that are closest to you from - https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp

When you reach the relevant SSA office, you will have to fill an application form called, Form SS-5, see snapshot below:

Officials will ask some questions mostly related to your Age and/or Identity i.e. your Passport. If every thing is ok, then they will inform you about the time when you can expect the Social Security Card in your Mail.

A Social Security Card looks like:

Valid for work only with DHS Authorization.

Possible Interview Questions That May Be Asked By Visa Officer During H-1B Visa Interview @ US Consulate or Embassy

 

1. For which position you are going?
2. Which company you are going?
3. Are you married?
4. How long you’ve been married?
5. How many kids you have?
6. What is the age of your kid?
7. Please show me the birth certificate of your kid?
8. To Wife – Where were you born?
9. To Wife – Have you ever travelled to any foreign country?
10. To Wife – Was your marriage arranged or love?
11. To Wife – Was your child born full term?
12. To Wife – What time in the day was he born?
13. To Wife – When you were married?
14. How many children you have?
15. Where in USA are you going?
16. How do you come to know about this Job Opportunity?
17. How do you know the person who referred this job opportunity to you?
18. For how long that referrer (in #8) is working with his current company?
19. On which position that referrer (in #8) is working on?
20. Is he/she (referrer in #8) still working with his current company?
21. Is he/she (referrer in #8) currently in USA?
22. What compensation will you get?
23. Will your employer be providing you the accommodation?
24. What was the interview process in your new Company?
25. Were they telephonic interviews or in-person?
26. Where you are graduated from?
27. Do you have any business card or employment letter of the current job with you?
28. Do you have a family in USA?
29. When do you plan to join your Company?
30. Tell me briefly about your travel history in last 10 years?
31. Tell me some of the clients of your company (which you are going to join in USA)?
32. What position will you be having?
33. What’s the business of your Company?
34. What is your last degree?
35. Where did you work after you graduated?
36. Where are you working right now?
37. Does your current employer knows about your H-1B processing?
38. How many employees your company have (the one which you will join in USA)?
39. What will you going to do in your new company?
40. So you studied Mathematics? What is Integration?
41. What is a Stack?
42. What is Debugging?
43. What is a Code Comment?

Receiving and Accepting the Offer from H-1B Work Visa Sponsor

 

This post is a part of series of posts that makes up “The Complete Process Trail for H-1B Work Visa”.

Once you clear the technical interview and are shortlisted by the H-1B Work Visa Sponsor, your second and last interview will be scheduled with the HR/Management. This interview serves a mean to interact with the management/HR of the company and sort of an introductory knowledge session about what company is all about, their vision, mission , future roadmaps etc.. It is very rare that a candidate who qualifies the technical interview, got rejected because of the evaluation results from his management/HR interview.

Next, the Sponsor will extend an offer to you verbally, which details your role, job description, salary, benefits, etc.. If you agree or after final negotiations, they will send you an Official Offer Letter on company’s letter head, which will be a proof of employment for you throughout your H-1B Work Visa processing.

Make sue you discuss and have a clear understanding on all of the following before accepting the offer:

1. Contract Type – Consultant or Employment
2. Sponsor’s % and your % in case of Consultant Contract OR per month Salary in case of Employment Contract
3. General idea of rates/salaries in prevailing market
4. General idea of Tax Deductions & your Take Home Salary

H-1B Work Visa–Recent Trends–Salary or Compensation

 

Salary brackets for fresh H-1B Candidates, who do not have any work experience in USA before, are as follows:

Developer (0 – 5 years of experience)
US$ 3,500 – 5,500 per month (Employment Contract)
OR
US$ 40 – 55 per hour (Consultant Contract)

Senior/Lead Developer (6+ years of experience)
US$ 5,500 – 7,000 per month (Employment Contract)
OR
US$ 55 – 80 per hour (Consultant Contract)

Why there’s a difference between Employment and Consultant Contract? please refer to my previous post which discuss the topic in detail.

In order to come up with a realistic estimate of your salary, you should consider following factors:

1. State & City/Area – Each state has a slightly different salary scale because they differ with others on following:
   1. Taxation Laws – Some tax more while others tax less
   2. Economic Activity – Some are Hub of economic activity while others are not
   3. Cost of Living – Some are cheaper while others are expensive
2. Client Profile – Whether your Client is a small or medium or large Enterprise OR it’s a fresh Start-up company (low funding or high funding?)
3. Quality of your Experience – Your foreign experience counts when you have worked for companies that have International presence of at-least presence in USA. On the other hand, if you have worked for companies who are unknown in USA market than you might not be able to leverage upon your experience.
4. Time of Entry – This is also important as to when you enter the USA job market. Whether it is a hiring season or not. Whether supply is adequate or there’s a high demand.
5. First Impression – The most important factor, if you were able to market yourself effectively in your interview/test/meeting there’s a bright chance that you can tip the scale in your favor.

Companies who sponsor H-1B Work Visa for USA in Pakistan

 

One of the most frequently asked question I encounter is, which companies (local or foreign) are sponsoring H-1B Visa’s in Pakistan? I’m listing down a number of IT & IT Enabled Services (ITES) companies who are known to have sponsored candidates from Pakistan in past 5 years or more. And, I personally know and have met the candidates from these companies (except one).

Company in USA	Local Representation in Pakistan
Macrosoft Inc. 2 Sylvan Way 3rd Floor Parsippany, NJ 07054 http://www.macrosoftinc.com/	Macrosoft Pakistan (SMC-PVT) Limited 42-A, Abu Bakar Block, New Garden Town, Lahore, Pakistan. http://www.macrosoftpakistan.com
Netpace Inc. 12657 Alcosta Blvd. Suite 410 San Ramon, CA 9458 http://www.netpace.com	Netpace Systems (Pvt) Ltd 1003-4, Park Avenue, Shara-e-Faisal, Karachi 75400, Pakistan. http://www.netpace.com
NetProSys Inc./ Progressive Systems (They seems to be out of operations by this name. And, unconfirmed news is that they have been acquired and/or re-branded by/as RaaWee, Inc. (see below)
RaaWee Inc. Eastside Atrium, 800 E. Campbell Rd, Suite 201, Richardson, TX 75081 http://raawee.com	Sidat Hyder Morshed Associates (Pvt) Ltd Beaumont Plaza, Beaumont Road Karachi 75530, Pakistan http://www.sidathyder.com.pk
NorthStar Technologies Inc. 161 Kimball Bridge Road Suite #200 Alpharetta, GA 30009 http://www.globalnorthstar.com	Sibisoft (Pvt.) Ltd. National IT Park Suite # 1214, Caesars Tower Shahrah-e-Faisal Karachi - 74400, Pakistan http://www.sibisoft.com
360training.com, Inc. 13801 N. Mo-Pac, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78727 http://www.360training.com	Softech Corporation (Pvt) Ltd. # 502, 5th Floor, Anum Empire Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi, Pakistan http://www.360training.com

Besides the ones mentioned above, there are other ITES companies that have presence in Pakistan and are on the record to have sponsor H-1B visas. However, it might be possible that the actual candidates are sponsored from other countries (where they also have presence besides USA and Pakistan). I’m not personally, or through my contacts, aware of any sponsorship cases by these companies:

Company in USA	Local Representation in Pakistan
Mentor Graphics Corporation 8005 SW Boeckman Road Wilsonville, OR 97070 http://www.mentor.com	Mentor Graphics (Pakistan) Development (Pvt) Ltd Floors # 5-6-7-8th, Ali Tower 105 B2 MM Alam Road Gulberg III Lahore, Pakistan 54660 http://www.mentor.com
TRG
NetSol IR
Mixit
Primatics Financials

In the end, there are companies other than ITES sector that are also on the records to have sponsor H-1B visas:

• National Bank of Pakistan
• Pakistan Link
• Pakistan Publications Inc
• Taj Software Systems Corporation (Indian company, but have known to run ads for Pakistani candidates in Pakistan as well)

Why a dedicated blog on H-1B Work Visa USA?

I remember my time, when I was weighing different career growth options, and H1B was also among them, I find it really difficult to get accurate, reliable and sufficient information on H1B Work Visa Sponsorship for United States of America (USA). The websites, blogs and forums I was able to locate had almost nothing relevant for an interested candidate like me living in Karachi, Pakistan. So, now, after experiencing all the process myself, I thought to share that information with people who are looking for accurate and reliable information on the subject.

I will walk you through each step of the process with every single detail that I witness myself and then corroborate that with other similar accounts of friends, colleagues and relatives that I know personally and who have experience the same process with in last couple of years.

In case, I left something un-answered or forget to address any part, or you want more detail on any subject, please feel free to mention that in comments of the post. I’ll follow up that with a new related post and shed light on the subject to clarify it further. Even though I have planned a number of posts in my mind, and also have prioritize them, but if you want me to address any thing earlier on, do mention it in the comments and I’ll adjust my posts accordingly.

In the end, I’m on extended vacation these days, therefore, you might experience delays between posts, but I’ll try to keep them coming in a pace that would neither left your queries un-attended, nor sabotage my vacations