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H1B and immigrant visa, different or combined?

USA immigration, green card questions:
Employment based Green Cards | H-1B visas | Family based Visas | Citizenship

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ForgetfulRainn
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Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 8:40 pm

H1B and immigrant visa, different or combined?

Post by ForgetfulRainn » Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:22 pm

Dear All,

I am confused about something: while I know a lot about the H1B procedure, I am absolutely in the mist as to whether or not there are other ways to immigrate through work.

For instance, can you apply for an immigrant visa through work? It seems that yes, and then I wonder: is that sort of thing related to the H1B or not?

The way I understood it, perhaps wrongly, was that you could only immigrate through work on an H1B visa, which would allow you to stay long enough, 5 years, to then apply for citizenship. That's the only way I thought there was, but perhaps I err.

Thank you very much for your time and answers!
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Marco 72
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Location: London

Re: H1B and immigrant visa, different or combined?

Post by Marco 72 » Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:34 pm

I have never heard of anyone being sponsored for permanent residence by a company without starting work under a non-immigrant visa first (H1, L1, E3, etc). The reason is probably that sponsoring someone for permanent residence can take years, and I don't think any company is willing to wait that long for someone to start work.
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ForgetfulRainn
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Post by ForgetfulRainn » Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:36 pm

I see... But so it's possible? Yet I figure you got nothing to lose, as an employer, in hiring the person on a regular H1B, since it can lead to the same result.

Thanks for your post!
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iamwhoever
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Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 12:46 pm

Post by iamwhoever » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:04 pm

Yes, it is possible. The H-1B is one of the non-immigrant visas that allows you to switch status while in the US. So, once you are with a company, if they wish to sponsor you for a Green Card, they would do so while you are on the H-1B. It could take 2 years + for the Green Card to be awarded for most people.
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ForgetfulRainn
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Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 8:40 pm

Post by ForgetfulRainn » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:05 pm

I see! Thanks for the fast reply! You guys are awesome. :)
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JAJ
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Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2005 9:29 pm
Australia

Re: H1B and immigrant visa, different or combined?

Post by JAJ » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:58 pm

Marco 72 wrote:I have never heard of anyone being sponsored for permanent residence by a company without starting work under a non-immigrant visa first (H1, L1, E3, etc). The reason is probably that sponsoring someone for permanent residence can take years, and I don't think any company is willing to wait that long for someone to start work.
If a job qualifies for EB-2 (second preference green card) then it may well be quicker for the employer to sponsor for that, considering the delays/lottery with the H1 process.
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