QuoteOriginally posted by: BulletToothWhat a lot of firms do, is to ship you to London for a year and then bring you back on a L1. During the first year you can come back to NYC on business visas. If you have an offer, the next time the firm will be able to sponsor you for H1-B is April 1st, 2011, to take effect on Oct 1st, 2011. hope this helps.This is completely wrong.H1-Bs have just run out for the year beginning Oct 1 2009. These were on offer starting Apr 1 2009, but because of the recession demand was insufficient to fill capacity until 8 months had passed.The next H1-Bs are on offer starting Apr 1 2010, and the employment start date would be Oct 1 2010

QuoteOriginally posted by: MatthewMQuoteOriginally posted by: BulletToothWhat a lot of firms do, is to ship you to London for a year and then bring you back on a L1. During the first year you can come back to NYC on business visas. If you have an offer, the next time the firm will be able to sponsor you for H1-B is April 1st, 2011, to take effect on Oct 1st, 2011. hope this helps.This is completely wrong.H1-Bs have just run out for the year beginning Oct 1 2009. These were on offer starting Apr 1 2009, but because of the recession demand was insufficient to fill capacity until 8 months had passed.The next H1-Bs are on offer starting Apr 1 2010, and the employment start date would be Oct 1 2010You are right. I got my time axis all messed up. not a morning person.

QuoteOriginally posted by: NikkeiI have a question about OPT.I worked under OPT (F1) for about 3 months, then my company got H1B for me.I was laid off in another 3 months, and filed a petition to change my status to TD (dependent).Question: if I find another position, can I go back to working under OPT? Thanks.To the casual observer who is not well-versed in the intricacies of US immigration law, it would appear that you, my friend, are totally and completely screwed.

I'd rather hear from someone who was in a similar situation and knows for sure.

I am pretty sure, you can get another company to get you a H-1b, since you were counted against the quota once you are exempt from it. Ask a lawyer to confirm.

QuoteOriginally posted by: traderjoe1976Normally the H1-B gets completed on the first day itself and they have to hold a lottery and even if you apply on the first day there is only one in three chance of getting the H1-B.This sounds rather bad. How do you now this for sure? If not, do not make the world worse than it is, please.

QuoteOriginally posted by: TeodorQuoteOriginally posted by: traderjoe1976Normally the H1-B gets completed on the first day itself and they have to hold a lottery and even if you apply on the first day there is only one in three chance of getting the H1-B.This sounds rather bad. How do you now this for sure? If not, do not make the world worse than it is, please.It is actually worse than stated. They start accepting petitions for H1-B on April 1. On April 1, they receive 180,000 petitions for a maximum annual quota of 65,000 H1-B + 20,000 H1-B for graduate students. On April 2, they issue a statement that they are no longer accepting applications for H1-B. On April 8, they hold a lottery. If your number comes up, they will process your H1-B application and if the papers are in order, you can start working on October 1. If your number does not come up, you are out of luck. Many of these IT companies prepare thousands of petitions in advance which contributes to the 180,000 H1-B petitions which they receive on April 1. They will take any H1-B visas they get. You can of course, get detailed information from any immigration attorney. This year, because of the recession, the quota lasted 8 months.

So, there is a good chance that in 2010, the quota will last 8 months also, and possibly longer.

Not sure about 8 mos, but at least it may not go through the lottery.

Look it is not as hopeless as it appears. Maybe if you don't get H1-B you may be walking along Roosevelt Avenue in Queens between 69th street and 97th street. You may notice every five blocks a small shady joint on the second floor with the sign board 'IMMIGRACION". You may wander in and come across people like John Smith J.D. or John Smith Esq. who have probably never been inside a law school. However, they do get Green Cards for a lot of people who are in deportation proceedings. If you can speak Spanish, you can expect to pay less than half of what they normally charge.

QuoteOriginally posted by: EEGradThe H-1B's in the US have run out. I was wondering if the finance companies sponsor O-1 visas, otherwise I would have to wait till October to join, and who knows if the H-1Bs will be available at that time. Can anyone shed light on this.There have been a couple of threads about O-1s on this forum.I tried to get the visa twice: once for my first job on wall street, the second time when I had been with (another) firm for a few years and my H1B ran out. The first time the company refused to sponsor me, but the second time I succeeded. You can pm me for details.

QuoteOriginally posted by: LTrain>> Visas are not portable between companies under US lawReally?!?Im trying to recruit an H1 from an other company. Are you saying I need to sponsor a second H1 before I can hire the person (assuming they won't jump ship until the deal is done)??You have to apply for H1 transfer. Within a week you will get a receipt. That is enough to jump the ship. You need not wait for the approval, which takes about 3 months.