OPT Student / when to apply for H-1?

[pavan2005]

Masters / OPT / when to apply for H-1?

Hi,
The 20,000 H-1 quota which was allocated for this year (FY2005,for the Masters Students) will the same be allocated next year (2006)?
I have a Masters Degree and Iam currently on OPT.My EAD card expires in May 2006.

Is it a good idea to apply for H-1 visa in April 2006 so that I can have immediate start date in May 2006?

I have my OPT for about 10 more months and I already got selected for a job.
I would like to avail the tax benefits on my OPT.Is there any way
I can apply for H-1 now thru a consultant so that "H-1 work start date" is
close to my EAD expiry date(may 2006) say april 2006?

Please advice.

thanks
Pavan

 

[Downhill]

Right time to change from F1 to h1

Hi Pavan,

(1) If you take up ajob in academia or non profit oragnisation then the october 1 cap has no conseqiences for you. There is no cap.quota for peoplem working in academia.

(2) When you apply for change from F1 to H1 you will be asked for an "H1- start date" just as you were asked for your OPT start date. So let say your OT expires on May 25, 2006. When you fill out H1 forms, put the Hi date as May26, 2006. That way you can avail all tax benefits and time for th entire 12 month OPT

(3) I say apply 5-6 months in advance for the regular processing.

(4) The premium processing taked onlya few weeks and you get to in a few weeks if you got your H1 or not. But costs atleast a 1000 $ more. depends on what your boss wants to pay

(5) As a rule you cannot apply for your H1too much in advance. I am not sure the excat time.

Hope this helps,
DnHill

 

[balajik]

apply now

u should apply in this year's quota (not next years!). if u apply in next year's then ur earliest H1B start date will be oct 2006 and u would have been out of status for 5 months. so apply right away and put ur start date as 6 months from now. u wll lose 4 months F1- tax rates but u will have an H1B!

 

[pavan2005]

Hello Balaji,
Thanks for the reply.
Iam a Masters degree holder.
I was told that Masters degree holders can have an early start date rather than oct 2006.If I apply in DEC 2006 for the FY 2006 quota with a start date in May,will it create any problem?
Iam very confused about this.
Please correct me if I got this wrong.
thanks
Pavan

 

[h1b_transfter]

Don't Count on Saving 8% by delaying your h-1b/GC

Hi Folks,

Pretty important info. for you guys. Don't try to save 8% tax by utilizing your OPT at max. Instead get your h-1b asap and also apply for GC in parallel with your h-1b application. You never know when immigration policy takes a dip. We have many folks in our company who tried to utilize OPT at max and didn't apply for h-1b/GC, ultimately DOL stopped approving LCs and they are still tortured by h-1b immigration issues. Currently, PERM approvals are pretty fast. Apply for your h-1b and LC and live happily ever after ........