"Specialist" Worker/Professional H-1B
To close this page simply close your browser window!		For citizens of Chile and Singapore The U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement and the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement created new H-1B visa types for citizens of Chile and Singapore. The primary requirements for the H-1B visa remain the following: A U.S. business must offer the foreign worker a job which requires a specialist worker who holds a 4-year university degree or the equivalent in practical experience in the field. In determining whether practical experience is the equivalent of a 4-year university degree, 3 years of practical experience are considered the equivalent of one year of university education, and so a person who has not studied at the university would need 12 years of practical experience. The U.S. business offering the job must also offer what is called "the prevailing wage". The prevailing wage is the average wage which workers in the same type of position are earning in the region where the U.S. business is located. The foreign worker must have sufficient qualifications to fill the position. As mentioned above, the worker must have either a 4-year university degree in the same or similar field, 12 years of practical experience in the same or similar field, or else a combination of university studies and practical experience equal to a 4-year university degree in the same or similar field. Other aspects of the H-1B Visa for Chile and Singapore differ from the regular H-1B visa This H-1B visa is granted for a period of 1 year, renewable each year without the usual 6-year maximum and the requirement of the 2-year stay in the home country. Annual quota of 1,400 H-1B’s for Chile Annual quota of 5,400 H-1B’s for Singapore The employee must show no intention to abandon residence abroad and pursue permanent residence in the U.S. When the employee is abroad, no CIS petition is necessary, visa application can be filed directly at the consulate in home country. For a job requiring licensure, it is not required to have the U.S. license prior to applying. If a person who holds a Chilean or Singaporean H-1B visa decides to pursue permanent residence in the U.S., then it is possible to switch to the regular H-1B visa which permits renewal of the H-1B while pursuing permanent residence. For those specific specialty occupations which are not eligible to obtain a Chilean or Singaporean H-1B, they may pursue a regular H-1B visa if they are otherwise qualified. Advantages of the Chilean and Singaporean H-1B visas: The quotas for these two H-1B visa types are seldom exhausted, whereas the quota for the regular H-1B visa is often exhausted very quickly. Streamlined application process, which in many cases, does not require a petition to be filed with CIS. The information above is intended as a general description. Each individual's case requires specific advice and our firm offers an introductory consultation to review your case, the cost of which can be rebated against any retainer. We can assist you in getting settled in any U.S. state.
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		© 2003 Anthony Olson, P.A. All logos and trade marks or names are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification purposes only. Page uploaded 12/05/2007.