Hello,
I am going to get married in few months time.My fiance is on H1B visa in U.S.I have a Bachelors degree In Poilitical Science.But I have completed different computer courses and am working as a Programmer in a software company for last 1 year.What are the possibilities of getting a job in U.S if I go on a H4 visa.Please help me in clearing my doubts.Thanks.

Re: eligibility for converting H4 to H1
 

Just so you know, it is perfectly possible to switch to H1 from H4 so long as you fit the criteria and your prospective employer does all the necessaries.

Have a nice day :D

Re: eligibility for converting H4 to H1
 

The key will be to find a prospective employer who's not scared off by the need to sponsor you for an H1B visa. If you can find such an employer then there's nothing to stop you converting from an H4 to an H1B visa...

...except for the fact that all this year's H1B visas are long gone. The earliest an employer would be able to apply for one for you would be April 2006, and the visa would be valid from October 1st 2006. This year the H1B quota (only 65,000 for the whole country) was filled by August.

So, you have between now and April to find yourself an employer who will sponsor you, and then between April and October (but more likely August) to submit an application.

From your post, however, I'd be more concerned that an employer would find it difficult to prove that there are no local US Citizens who could do whatever job you're offered. The H1B visa typically requires either a Bachelor's degree, a graduate degree or around 12 years experience in you specialist field. Given that your first degree is in Political Science, you'll find it hard to show that you are better qualified than the many US programmers on the job market, and your 1 year of experience won't help too much.

I don't mean to sound so dreadfully discouraging... but the fact is that it has become increasingly difficult to get an H1B in recent years.

All the same, I wish you good luck, and hope you can find a way. My wife is on an H4, having given up a successful career to come over here with me, and it's really no fun not being able to work at all!

Re: eligibility for converting H4 to H1
 

OH BOLLOCKS

Thanks Wintersong! :p

Re: eligibility for converting H4 to H1
 

I just saw your reply and was about to write a grovelling apology for all the time you wasted :o

Re: eligibility for converting H4 to H1
 

Yeah, and I tried so hard to tell her in the kindest way possible that she didn't have a friggin' hope in hell.

Still, it wasted a good 10 minutes while I wait for my dinner to cook.

Re: eligibility for converting H4 to H1
 

You're just the sweetest guy :D

Re: eligibility for converting H4 to H1
 

Yeah! I am. Now give me some Karma to make up for it! :)

...please.

Re: eligibility for converting H4 to H1
 

Ah, alright then ;)

Re: eligibility for converting H4 to H1
 

Now I may be mistaken but to get an H1, one's degree must relate to the field you wish to work in. I say this 'cos I had a Canadian coworker who married an Aussie who came to the US on an H1. She tried to get an H1 for herself because she worked in IT but could not get one, so she told me, because her Bachelors degree is in geography, i.e. has no relevance to working in IT.


NC Penguin

Re: eligibility for converting H4 to H1
 

You've got more than enough karma, already.