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BAL supports the H-1B1 visa process for employers hiring temporary foreign national talent from Chile and Singapore.
The H-1B1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows U.S. employers to hire talent from Chile or Singapore in specialty occupations to work in the United States temporarily. The H-1B1 classification is part of the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement and the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.
1. The foreign worker must be a national of Chile or Singapore. 2. The U.S. employer must have a valid job offer for a professional position, which requires a degree in a specific specialty. 3. The foreign worker must have a bachelor’s degree or higher or its equivalent in the field of employment (specialty occupation). 4. The foreign worker must be paid at least the prevailing wage for the professional position.
H-1B1 visas are available anytime during the year as the annual cap is not typically met. BAL’s dedicated team of legal experts can help your business with the H-1B1 visa process, ensuring your applications are seamlessly processed and your immigration program remains compliant.
We’re there at every step to streamline the journey from petition to approval to entering the U.S. We also provide guidance for those employees requiring consular appointments, help address the visa needs of dependent family members when applicable and file the necessary extensions to ensure employers maintain quality and continuity in their workforce.
annual cap on H-1B1 visas for Chilean citizens
annual cap on H-1B1 visas for Singaporean citizens
year extensions forH-1B1 renewals
limits on the number of H-1B1 extensions
The H-1B1 visa is similar to the H-1B visa in that it’s a temporary nonimmigrant visa for specialty occupations; however, it is specifically for Chilean and Singaporean workers. Unlike H-1B, the H-1B1 visa is a non-dual intent visa, meaning H-1B1 visa holders are expected to return to their home country after working in the U.S. temporarily.
Additionally, the H-1B1 visa is not subject to a lottery as the annual limits are not typically reached and an employer can sponsor a foreign national at any time during the year. Lastly, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services does not offer premium processing for the H-1B1 category. Most H-1B1 visa applicants apply for this status at the U.S. consulate in their home country.
The annual cap for H-1B1 visas is 6,800: 1,400 visas for Chile and 5,400 for Singapore. The annual cap is not typically met, so employers may sponsor a foreign national at any time during the year.
The H-1B1 visa may be renewed in one-year increments. There are no extension limits.
Spouses and unmarried children under 21 are eligible for H-4 classification, allowing them to enter and stay in the U.S. with the H-1B1 beneficiary. They do not need to be nationals of Chile or Singapore. H-4 visa holders are not authorized to work in the U.S.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services does not offer a premium processing option for H-1B1. To apply for an H-1B1 visa, foreign nationals can instead opt to apply directly at a U.S. consulate. Often, applying directly at the consulate is the faster approach.
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Our approach delivers the best of BAL to clients ranging from multinational Fortune 500 companies moving thousands of employees each year to businesses with a single immigration case.