cokey

Hi,

I have been in contact with a consultancy in New Jersey, and they have offered to sponsor my H1 visa.
They have said that once I arrive in the US they will try and find me work in my chosen area (Georgia).
They are going to pay the visa application and my flight out there, however, they are asking me to pay thier independant lawyer for the legal fees.
Is this normal, out of the ordinary etc?

Once I arrive in the US I have to apply for my social security number, is it true that this can take upto 4 weeks?

I guess that I a bit nervous about the whole thing, as I will be quitting my well paid job here in the UK and going into the unknown.

Anyhow, thanks in advance for any advice, information etc..
Regards
Col

scrubbedexpat099

Sounds like a scam.

To state the obvious they need to be your Employer.

cokey

Hi,

They would be my employer.
Admittedly, at first I thought it was a scam, however, I have got my family in the US to check out the company as best as they can and they appear to be legitimate, they have lots of employees etc. but I guess there is no real way to tell...is there?

I have received a written confirmation of the job offer in the post along with the relevant documents for me to fill in.

Regards
Col

Amanda

cokey wrote:
    > Hi,
    > I have been in contact with a consultancy in New Jersey, and they have
    > offered to sponsor my H1 visa.
    > They have said that once I arrive in the US they will try and find me
    > work in my chosen area (Georgia).

Good luck. They will force you to go anywhere or they will drop you.


    > They are going to pay the visa application and my flight out there,
    > however, they are asking me to pay thier independant lawyer for the
    > legal fees.
    > Is this normal, out of the ordinary etc?

How these consultency agencies operates is suspicios at best.

    > Once I arrive in the US I have to apply for my social security number,
    > is it true that this can take upto 4 weeks?
    > I guess that I a bit nervous about the whole thing, as I will be
    > quitting my well paid job here in the UK and going into the unknown.

If you have a goodpaying job, don't do H1 with these agencies. Read
my lips.
Do not do it.


    > Anyhow, thanks in advance for any advice, information etc..
    > Regards
    > Col
    >
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

scrubbedexpat099

http://www.kkeane.com/h1b-faq.shtml

Kevin knows far more about this than I do, I guess I would want more of a financial commitment from the Employer.

Perhaps see if there are current employees who have gone this route and have a chat with them.

Amanda

cokey wrote:
    > > Sounds like a scam.
    > >
    > > To state the obvious they need to be your Employer.
    > Hi,
    > They would be my employer.
    > Admittedly, at first I thought it was a scam, however, I have got my
    > family in the US to check out the company as best as they can and they
    > appear to be legitimate, they have lots of employees etc. but I guess
    > there is no real way to tell...is there?
    > I have received a written confirmation of the job offer in the post
    > along with the relevant documents for me to fill in.
    > Regards
    > Col

Aside from ligit or not, there is no guarantee that you'll get the job
in the state you want. The people I know on H-1 are moving every 6 mo
to 1 year to another state.

Also, like Boiler said, there should should have been more financial
commitment from them, either the employer or the agency.

You have to weigh whether you really want to let go of your good paying
job for H-1. may be you have other reasons such as to be near family.
You decide.




    >
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Amanda

cokey wrote:
    > Hi,
    > I have been in contact with a consultancy in New Jersey, and they have
    > offered to sponsor my H1 visa.
    > They have said that once I arrive in the US they will try and find me
    > work in my chosen area (Georgia).

    > They are going to pay the visa application and my flight out there,
    > however, they are asking me to pay thier independant lawyer for the
    > legal fees.

    > Is this normal, out of the ordinary etc?

What I know about these agencies, despite, the crack down, is that they
put you on their payroll to put you on H1 and do not pay (I don't know
how they arrange not to pay since it is illegal) until they find you
work with another employer.

    > Once I arrive in the US I have to apply for my social security number,
    > is it true that this can take upto 4 weeks?

Social Secuiryt is not givent o all visa holders these days. I think H1
will get it and usually 2 weeks. But there has been cases where it
takes longer.

    > I guess that I a bit nervous about the whole thing, as I will be
    > quitting my well paid job here in the UK and going into the unknown.
    > Anyhow, thanks in advance for any advice, information etc..
    > Regards
    > Col
    >
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Amanda

cokey


What line of professional work are you in? IT?

Asianeyes

did your employer say that they would reimburse you for this?

i have a couple of friends (ex-colleagues) who went through a similar
route (with different consulting companies), where they had to give a
"share" with the total cost of their H1B. My friends are all in the US
now, and the companies seem to be legitimate, as well as the job posts.


I guess from the companies' POV, or at least, giving the benefit of the
doubt, it would seem like they just need their own safety net with you
-- like are you just using them to get your initial H1, and then easily
you'd be jumping ship when you're in the US? I was able to talk to a
director of a company with this practice and he says there's a risk as
well to them, because there are apparently some people who "use"
willing employers to be their sponsors, have them pay the fees, and
then the employee leaves the soonest possible time to transfer to
another employer (2 months?).

I guess investment-wise (on you and your H1), the company wouldn't have
been able to get their ROI on that since you didn't stay with them long
enough. --- so asking the employee for a share of the fees (to be
reimbursed to you in full, during your tenure with them, say in 6
months) is probably a derivative of an employment bond with them.

Of course, I wouldn't know if this is COMPLETELY LEGAL or if there are
loopholes there somewhere.

Now if they didn't really say they'd reimburse you, errr.... you could
probably ask. hehe. :)

Good luck! :)