Mr.M asks for help regarding his H1B stamping and travel to U.S. without job offer.
I Had my H1B Visa Stamping in the year 2008 November. Immediately after I got my Visa stamped, the financial meltdown affected across the globe, including USA, followed by the mass recession.
So, at this moment, my employer suggested me to stay in India and they will call up as soon as the situation is better to join the company or to be on board in USA.Still now, I am in India and waiting for their call. But it seems there are in deep trouble and still not recovered from the meltdown.
1. In this situation what should I do? or what can I do to facilitate my journey to USA or properly utilize this H1B visa? Its been almost 1.5 Yrs now, since I have stamped H1B visa.
2. As my visa is stamped through a company already, and I have never went to USA with this visa even for the first time so, I do not think, I can transfer this one to another employer. Can I?
Please suggest!
H1B visa Stamping & Travel to US
Lets be realistic here. You agree that job market in U.S. is still recovering and not many IT jobs are available. That the main reason, your employer is asking you to stay in India. Then why are you trying to be so desperate to go to U.S.?
- Do you think you can find a job in U.S.?
- Do you think you can find another employer to transfer your H1?
Most likely your H1B visa sponsored through consulting company. Having H1 Visa is one thing, but knowing the how to use it based on the rules is another. Don’t try to manipulate the system to find a way to travel to U.S.
You are just tired of waiting. Not hearing from your employer. Everyone in your situation will try to find alternate ways to utilize stamped H1B Visa. But, you got to be patient.
Did you know H1B workers were deported to India at Port of Entry? H1 visa holders with Full time jobs are now thinking twice to travel to India ( vacation or stamping).
H1B Transfer
Going back to jobs scenario again. How do you think you can find a job with different employer? Reason why so many are against H1B visa workers are because it’s been misused to great extent. For now enjoy your life in India and stay put.
You can consume above response in 2 ways
- Dude, I desperately want to go to U.S. in H1B. I don’t care what you say, I’m going to either travel with my current employer or find another employer, transfer H1 and then travel to United States.
- I see the risk involved in going to U.S. without job offer, I will wait till economy improves.
Readers : What would you do if you were to face M’s situation?
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Dear M
My petition was approved by USCIS on 29th May,2008 and uptill this time my employer has not yet get got my H1B stamping due to the reason that more IT jobs in US are not avaialble at present due to recession. As you are already aware that many IT professionals have yet been deported to their countries by their employers due to recession and they are at present in very occuward situation as they are not finding job in their own country. If you are already employed suitabily in a good company, they why are u so much desprate to go to US as the you may not be able to get job secureity over there or you wont be able to get green card after completion of your mandatory three years terms on H1b visa in US. So please restrain yourself till the time when your employer would call u and do not pressurize them for offer/appointment letter untill they are not in dire need to hire u.
A K Gupta
I’m in the same situation. My H-1B visa was stamped in October 2008, but since I’m school teacher and the school year started in August, my sponsors decided to hire another teacher instead of me. A year later, in 2009, I flew back to the US in order to find out if there was a position available for me in the same school or in any other school in that county. I couldn’t find anything due to recession and unemployment. I would like to highlight that when I flew to the US last year I used my B1 visa. My attorney advised me not to enter the US with the H-1B visa if I didn’t have a job. Immigration would ask for a letter of employment at the time of you entrance. Had I used the H-1B, I would have been in an illegal situation. I returned to my country so discouraged, but I’ll try to find a different sponsor in a different state. However, it’s like starting the whole process again because one has to pay again all the fees that USCIS requires. I hope my story helps a bit.
Pat – Can you answers few more question for us – http://www.happyschoolsblog.com/h1b-stamping-travel-b1-visa/
Hi,
I have a similar question. I have my h1b stamped in 2007 and it is valid up to sep2010. My wife also got h1b stamped recently but through her india based mnc company and she is travelling in a week time. I have two options to go to usa. one option is thru my company. another option is, thru my h1b. but i like to utilise my h1b. for that, i talked to my consultant, who is making arrangements for interviews. if it clicks, i have to travel within couple of weeks. this is the background. do you see any problems while entering usa ie at the time of porting and after entering usa (because visa is valid up to 27sep2010. Assume that i enter usa with a valid offer.