gypsygirl

What would be the soonest hubby could start his job assuming his H1-b is approved? The company want him to start October 3rd, but the last time we went through this it took 4-6 weeks expedited?
We need to know a rough timescale as we have commitments here to give dates to.
Thanks

AABBA

I've just been through this. It would take around 2 weeks for the LCA approval. Then assuming premium processing is what you mean, the USCIS will complete H1B petition in 15 calender days.
The Visa stamp is then collected from the consulate. Expect around a 1 week wait for an interview appointment at the London consulate following which your passport should be processed within 10 days or so.

In some cases however this administrative processing may make this a very very longtime but hopefully this won't be you.

RayM

October 3rd would be the soonest he could start, well actually Oct 1st but that's a Saturday.
How far has his employer got? If they've already sent the petition in and are using Premium Process and there isn't an RFE then I guess he could just about get there for Oct 3rd but it would be a real challenge. He's also got the embassy interview to book and attend, I've no idea how busy they are at the moment. When I booked in June there was a wait of about a week for interviews but I believe that changes all the time.

gypsygirl

Thanks, they said the visas are full and are not opening up until October. So doesnt that mean they cant apply until October and it will take X long from October?

RayM

There are still lots of H1bs available for 2012. They can apply for the Visa now, applications for 2012 opened on April 1st 2011. In the unlikely event that the Visa was approved before Oct 1st the he couldn't start work until October 1st 2011.

gypsygirl

The lawers have told hubby that the cap has been reached for 2011 and the earliest they can apply is October 3rd, but they want him to start right away and seem to think he will be there October 3rd? So I dont think we come under the 2012 visas? Its very confusing!

RayM

You do currently come under the 2012 year if you apply now. The financial year for H1bs starts on October 1st. So October 1st 2011 is actually the start of the 2012 year for visas. They are correct in that the cap for 2011 Visa's, which allowed people to start from October 1st 2010, was reached in January this year.
Applications for the 2012 year were accepted from 1st April 2011 for people to start work on or after October 1st 2011.
So they can apply now for for the 2012 year for him to start work on or after October 1st 2011.
There are still lots of visas available for 2012 year.

This is a link to the figures for 2012:http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/usc...00b92ca60aRCRD

gypsygirl

Ah I see, thank you. Im not sure why they are saying they cant apply until October then, but will pass on the information.

RayM

Maybe you should check if they are specialist Immigrations Attorney's if they aren't then I wouldn't even guess how long it will take.

gypsygirl

Yes, we thought they were but

Wibblypig

Hi,

My husband starts on Oct 3rd on an H1B

The longest part of the process was collating all the information to submit the application (took about 4 weeks!), once it was submitted it only took 5 days to be authorised, another 5 days for the attorney to receive the I797B, they then emailed this to hubby (you don't need the original for the interview), he rang the Embassy in London and we had out interview 2 days later on the Friday (exactly 2 weeks after the application was received by UCIS), then we received our passports back the following Wednesday

Obviously it varies, depends on how good the attorney is, how quick the company are with all of their info, how busy UCIS and the Embassy are etc. It will feel like it's taking forever for you as 99% of the work is done by the attorney and company...

Good luck

Vicki xx