5 ms·

Say for the sake of argument we're a seed-stage startup and we've identified an engineer with a very specific set of skills -- skills necessary for the growth o

Say for the sake of argument we're a seed-stage startup and we've identified an engineer with a very specific set of skills -- skills necessary for the growth of our company -- who would need an H1B to work here legally. All-in, about how much will it cost us to get that H1B visa processed through the system in a timely fashion?

proberts 11y ago
Legal fees aside, the filing fees are $1575 for a company with less than 25 FT employees and $2325 for a company with 25 or more FT employees. These are the fees for regular processing which can take months at present, so premium processing is required for quick decision and this costs an additional $1125.
- leroy_masochist 11y ago
  Thank you! I know that mileage varies, but could you give a ballpark for what legal fees might be for a "plain vanilla" case? At the other end of the spectrum, what are the highest fees you've ever seen from one individual?
  - winter_blue 11y ago
    One good thing to remember is that USCIS refunds the entire $2,325 or $1,575 application fee, if you do not win the H-1B lottery. So applying for someone is fairly low risk, cost-wise. Attorney fees vary, but some will only charge part of their fee initially, and the rest is only payable if your engineer wins the H1B visa lottery and their visa petition is approved. I just googled, and one[1] attorney ("Zhang and Associates, P.C.") splits their effective $2400 fee in two: they charge $1200 for the application, and only charge another $1200 if the the person wins the lottery and their application is approved. Another[2] charges $895 for the application, and no more. With the Zhang & Associates, the total cost of just trying to get your engineer an H1B visa is $1200. If they win the lottery (odds: 1 out 3) and get approved, the total cost rises to $4,725. With premium processing, it's $5,950. Even though tempting, it might be better to avoid lower cost attorneys (e.g. that charge below $1000). A good highly knowledgeable (thus, more expensive) attorney is strongly preferable. Even the slightest error can jeopardize an application. In addition, USCIS issues various rules and notices from time to time, and it's good to have an attorney who's on top of all of that. [1] http://www.hooyou.com/h-1b/attorneyfee.html http://www.hooyou.com/h-1b/attorneyfee.html [2] http://www.usavisanow.com/h-1b-visa/h-1b-visa-attorney-services/ http://www.usavisanow.com/h-1b-visa/h-1b-visa-attorney-servi...
    - leroy_masochist 11y ago
      This is very helpful, thank you!
  - e15ctr0n 11y ago
    An east coast attorney "Jerry C. Chang Law Office, P.C." charges $2,000 as their fee, plus another $800 if USCIS asks for additional information while processing the H1B petition. http://www.jerrychanglawoffice.com/charge.htm http://www.jerrychanglawoffice.com/charge.htm
- omarchowdhury 11y ago
  How quick is the premium processing?
  - winter_blue 11y ago
    They guarantee they'll issue a decision in 14 days, or refund the $1,225 premium processing fee.
    - klean92 11y ago
      Be aware also that it does not not increase your probability to be a winner in the H1B lottery. You just know faster.
      - gkop 11y ago
        Also be aware that everyone finds out if they won the lottery at about the same time, regardless of premium processing. So if you trust your lawyer to do the job correctly, and you're not trying anything sketchy, if you win the lottery you should get a "yes" decision eventually, and there's really no reason to pay the premium fee except for reducing anxiety waiting for the "yes".
klipt 11y ago
The 2015 H1-B quota is already exhausted, so you can only apply first week of April 2016. Assuming your engineer wins the lottery* they'll be able to work starting October 2016. * There are 65,000 visas. In 2015 there were 233,000 applications so probability of winning = ~28%. It will probably be worse in 2016. http://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-completes-h-1b-cap-random-selection-process-fy-2016 http://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-completes-h-1b-cap-ra...
- mynameisvlad 11y ago
  > starting October 2016 Or whenever USCIS gets to your application. They still haven't finished processing mine (on a TN until then).
- lobster_johnson 11y ago
  If you apply early, the probably nears 100% (if applicant fulfills all requirements). It fills up over a matter of months. An immigration lawyer will be able to tell you the chances at any given time. Edit: Wait, is the lottery thing new? When I got my H-1B in 2013, my immigration lawyer gave me the above advice, i.e. that the process is first-come-first-serve.
  - tn13 11y ago
    Outdated advice.
    - Pyxl101 11y ago
      What's incorrect or out of date about it?
      - klean92 11y ago
        Economy is doing better than in 2013. So many more applicants. So lottery needed. In 2 days in April there are way more applicants than slots. If you apply 1 month later you're way behind, you're not even in the lottery.

proberts 11y ago

Legal fees aside, the filing fees are $1575 for a company with less than 25 FT employees and $2325 for a company with 25 or more FT employees. These are the fees for regular processing which can take months at present, so premium processing is required for quick decision and this costs an additional $1125.

leroy_masochist 11y ago
Thank you! I know that mileage varies, but could you give a ballpark for what legal fees might be for a "plain vanilla" case? At the other end of the spectrum, what are the highest fees you've ever seen from one individual?
- winter_blue 11y ago
  One good thing to remember is that USCIS refunds the entire $2,325 or $1,575 application fee, if you do not win the H-1B lottery. So applying for someone is fairly low risk, cost-wise. Attorney fees vary, but some will only charge part of their fee initially, and the rest is only payable if your engineer wins the H1B visa lottery and their visa petition is approved. I just googled, and one[1] attorney ("Zhang and Associates, P.C.") splits their effective $2400 fee in two: they charge $1200 for the application, and only charge another $1200 if the the person wins the lottery and their application is approved. Another[2] charges $895 for the application, and no more. With the Zhang & Associates, the total cost of just trying to get your engineer an H1B visa is $1200. If they win the lottery (odds: 1 out 3) and get approved, the total cost rises to $4,725. With premium processing, it's $5,950. Even though tempting, it might be better to avoid lower cost attorneys (e.g. that charge below $1000). A good highly knowledgeable (thus, more expensive) attorney is strongly preferable. Even the slightest error can jeopardize an application. In addition, USCIS issues various rules and notices from time to time, and it's good to have an attorney who's on top of all of that. [1] http://www.hooyou.com/h-1b/attorneyfee.html http://www.hooyou.com/h-1b/attorneyfee.html [2] http://www.usavisanow.com/h-1b-visa/h-1b-visa-attorney-services/ http://www.usavisanow.com/h-1b-visa/h-1b-visa-attorney-servi...
  - leroy_masochist 11y ago
    This is very helpful, thank you!
- e15ctr0n 11y ago
  An east coast attorney "Jerry C. Chang Law Office, P.C." charges $2,000 as their fee, plus another $800 if USCIS asks for additional information while processing the H1B petition. http://www.jerrychanglawoffice.com/charge.htm http://www.jerrychanglawoffice.com/charge.htm
omarchowdhury 11y ago
How quick is the premium processing?
- winter_blue 11y ago
  They guarantee they'll issue a decision in 14 days, or refund the $1,225 premium processing fee.
  - klean92 11y ago
    Be aware also that it does not not increase your probability to be a winner in the H1B lottery. You just know faster.
    - gkop 11y ago
      Also be aware that everyone finds out if they won the lottery at about the same time, regardless of premium processing. So if you trust your lawyer to do the job correctly, and you're not trying anything sketchy, if you win the lottery you should get a "yes" decision eventually, and there's really no reason to pay the premium fee except for reducing anxiety waiting for the "yes".

klipt 11y ago

The 2015 H1-B quota is already exhausted, so you can only apply first week of April 2016. Assuming your engineer wins the lottery* they'll be able to work starting October 2016. * There are 65,000 visas. In 2015 there were 233,000 applications so probability of winning = ~28%. It will probably be worse in 2016. http://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-completes-h-1b-cap-random-selection-process-fy-2016 http://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-completes-h-1b-cap-ra...

mynameisvlad 11y ago
> starting October 2016 Or whenever USCIS gets to your application. They still haven't finished processing mine (on a TN until then).
lobster_johnson 11y ago
If you apply early, the probably nears 100% (if applicant fulfills all requirements). It fills up over a matter of months. An immigration lawyer will be able to tell you the chances at any given time. Edit: Wait, is the lottery thing new? When I got my H-1B in 2013, my immigration lawyer gave me the above advice, i.e. that the process is first-come-first-serve.
- tn13 11y ago
  Outdated advice.
  - Pyxl101 11y ago
    What's incorrect or out of date about it?
    - klean92 11y ago
      Economy is doing better than in 2013. So many more applicants. So lottery needed. In 2 days in April there are way more applicants than slots. If you apply 1 month later you're way behind, you're not even in the lottery.