We urge companies to consider their 2012 hiring needs, and to do so soon. Given the upturn in the U.S. economy, we expect that coveted H-1B numbers will go much faster this year. Thus, unwary employers could be left waiting more than 1½ years, until October 1, 2013, to hire key professional workers from abroad.
If your company has expansion plans, or just needs to hire from abroad this fall, now is the time to give us a call. We will assess the company’s needs and determine the best visa category for the foreign hire based on the job requirements and the potential employee’s qualifications. Often that will be the H-1B visa status. Therefore, we urge employers to be ready to file H-1B petitions on April 1, 2012, the first day that new H-1B petitions can be filed for an October 1, 2012 start date. This is also true for companies with employees in F-1 Optional Practical Training status. This will be the best (perhaps only) opportunity to bring those bright young minds into a longer-term work authorized status for your company.
Please give us a call if you are considering any hires this fall – we stand ready to help with the H-1B “rush” as the U.S. economy improves.