Get your H1B visa applications in now!

The circus show has left Capitol Hill, the clown has retired to Texas and an air of optimism has swept the big top from Washington to the windy city, there’s a new master of travelling ceremonies in town so what is he going to do for US immigration and in particular the H1B visa?

In 2007, 123,500 petitions were filed in the first two days. Within those 48 hours the US Citizenship and Immigration Servicesvisa application process lasted 5 days when more than 163,000 were filed, including 31,200 against the advanced degree quota.

In 2008 the visa application process lasted 5 days when more than 163,000 were filed, including 31,200 against the advanced degree quota. Eventually a lottery system allocated the remaining numbers and again applicants and employers told to wait another year.

That year is almost up.

Filing for 2009 H1B visa applications opens on April 1, for the US work permit that will start on October 1. If previous years are anything to go by visa applications need to be dealt with immediately or you risk walking the tight rope come April. How many visas are there?

The new administration in town is headed by a supporter an Immigration Bill in 2007, which if passed, would have raised the annual quota of H1B visas to 180,000, from the current 65,000. He believes in doubling the basic research budget and granting the large number of foreign researchers on H1B visas US citizenship.

Up until now Obama’s favoured employers who create jobs in the US over those that outsource overseas.His choice in Governor Janet Napolitano is another indicator US immigration rules might be changing soon, Napolitano is also a keen supporter of increasing H1B visa numbers.

“The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart – not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good,” said Barack Obama in his inauguration speech. Which US visa?

If you are thinking about moving to the US and have questions on H-1B visas or any other for that matter leave a comment below.

We have a brand new shiny US immigration office opening in the Mid-West and can offer you expert advice and assistance on Intra-Company Transfers, EB-1 and EB-2 visa, Student visas, L1 visas and relationship-based visas such as the K1 fiancé visa and K3 spouse visa. Or if you’re already working in the US and are on one of these visas feel free to share your experiences with other readers.