Palm Beach County H-1B Visa Attorney
Technology start-ups don’t have to locate where the talent is. They can choose an attractive location based on factors such as cost of living, climate and environment where people want to live, work and raise a family, and then they attract the talent to them. That’s why a committed group of entrepreneurs, innovators and technologists are working hard to turn the Palm Beaches into a thriving, sophisticated and energetic tech hub. To assist tech companies and other Palm Beach businesses and the skilled foreign workers they need to hire, the Florida Board-Certified immigration attorneys at the Devore Law Group, P.A. provide practical advice, technical assistance and high-level legal representation in the H-1B visa process.
How the H-1B visa works
The H-1B visa is used primarily for skilled foreign workers, mostly in the tech industry, and also fashion models. Professional workers in specialty occupations must have a U.S. Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent, or equivalent education, specialized training or work experience. As a nonimmigrant visa, an H-1B can be granted for up to three years and extended for up to six years. Additional extensions may be possible if the visa holder begins the process to obtain a Green Card before the start of the sixth year. An H-1B visa holder can also bring a spouse and children on an H-4 visa, although these individuals in most cases will not be authorized to work in the U.S.
H-1B petitions are filed by the employer on behalf of the worker the employer intends to hire. If granted, the worker is only authorized to work for that sponsoring employer, and the employer must offer a wage equal to or greater than the prevailing wage in the region.
U.S. immigration law authorizes 65,000 H-1B visas every year, and it is not unusual for the number of applications to exceed the number of visas available, leading the government to issue visas through a lottery system. The first 20,000 workers with a master’s degree or higher are exempt from the quota limit, as are workers sponsored by educational, governmental and nonprofit research institutions.
How our Palm Beach Immigration Experts can Help
The H-1B visa program is highly competitive. The Devore Law Group, P.A. can help by ensuring that your petition is accurate, complete, timely filed and supported by persuasive documentation that makes your case for the foreign workers you need. Our immigration experts stay on top of all current and proposed changes to the H-1B visa program, such as proposed legislation like the Protect and Grow American Jobs Act, which would raise the minimum annual salary from $60,000 to $100,000 and possibly award visas to the highest bidder, i.e. the employers who agree to pay their workers the most. You can count on our trusted attorneys to be ready with the best advice and excellent representation regardless of the changing landscape of U.S. immigration law.
Get the Help You Need for H-1B Visas in Palm Beach County
If you are an employer or skilled foreign worker seeking an H-1B visa to work in the Palm Beach area, contact the Devore Law Group, P.A. at 561-478-5353 to schedule a consultation with a skilled, knowledgeable and experienced immigration lawyer.
