USA Immigration News

High Demand for U.S. Work Visas

The demand for the H-1B class of U.S. work visa has almost quadrupled compared to at the same time last year, says U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

About 42,000 U.S. work visa applications have been sent to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services since the first one was processed on 2 April 2011, up from 11,200 in the same period last year.

As U.S. immigration sets an annual quota of 65,000 of the H-1B visas each year, the limit is predicted to be reached next month.

"I think it's a sign that the economy is improving overall," said Lynn Shotwell of the American Council on International Personnel who says that despite the unemployment rate remaining relatively high, foreign workers are vital to the economy's continuing recovery as "there's still a skills mismatch between the jobs that are available and the skills people have."

To qualify for an H-1B visa to work in the U.S. , a foreign worker must have a temporary offer of employment in a specialty occupation from a U.S. employer.

An H-1B visa entitles the holder to live and work in the U.S. temporarily. An H-1B visa is usually granted for an initial period of 3 years and extensions may be granted. Foreign workers with an H-1B visa are permitted dual intent, meaning the applicant can maintain H-1B visa status while applying for a Green Card to remain in the U.S. permanently.

If you are interested in Visas to the USA, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to the United States of America.