Avoiding the Gamble: Alternatives to the H-1B Lottery

AVOIDING THE GAMBLE: ALTERNATIVES TO THE H-1B LOTTERYRomish Badani, Co-Founder and CEO of Bridge USMichael Serotte, Immigration Attorney and Founding Partner of Serotte Law Firm, LLC

HELLO!

‣Co-Founder & CEO, Bridge US‣Serial entrepreneur

ROMISH BADANI

HELLO!

‣Practicing since 1992‣More than 10,000 applications

‣Approval rate higher than 99.8%

MICHAEL SEROTTE

AGENDA

‣ Current state of the H-1B

‣ Visa options to avoid the H-1B lottery

‣ Outlook for the future

‣ Q&A

THE H-1B NOWAVOIDING THE GAMBLE

Rapid rise of computer, science, engineering and other high-skill jobs

Not enough U.S. workers to fill those jobs

THE H-1B NOW

Only 85,000 new H-1Bs are available each year:

‣ 20,000 – U.S. Master’s degree

‣ 65,000 – Bachelor’s degree or relevant work experience

THE H-1B NOW

ALTERNATIVES TO THE H-1BAl

AVOIDING THE GAMBLE

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?

Factors to consider:

‣ U.S. company’s options‣ Foreign national’s nationality‣ Foreign national’s professional background

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?

Based on nationality:

1. TN (NAFTA Professional)2. H-1B1 (Specialty

Occupation)3. E-3 (Specialty Occupation)

Based on company’s options:

1. H-3 (Trainee)2. J-1 (Exchange Visitor)3. E-1 (Trader Treaty)

Based on professional background:

1. O-1 (Extraordinary Ability)2. OPT-STEM

4. E-2 (Investor Treaty)5. L-1 (Intracompany Transfer)

E-VERIFY AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU

E-Verify:

‣ What is it‣ Why is it useful

‣ Prerequisite for OPT-STEM

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE FUTURE?

AVOIDING THE GAMBLE

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE FUTURE?

Increase in H-1Bs

Reform bill for H-4

dependents

E-filing for USCIS

Q&AAVOIDING THE GAMBLE

‣Body Level One‣Body Level Two‣Body Level Three‣Body Level Four‣Body Level Five


THANK YOU!


ROMISH BADANI‣Body Level One‣Body Level Two‣Body Level Three‣Body Level Four‣Body Level Five

‣[email protected]‣www.bridge.us‣@RomishMBadani

MICHAEL SEROTTE‣[email protected]

‣www.serottelaw.com‣@MSerotteLaw