With the federal government's fiscal year 2013 approaching,
employers who wish to sponsor a first-time H-1B worker may file
their petitions starting April 1, 2012. United States Citizenship
& Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations allow such petitions
to be filed six months before the start of the coming fiscal year
(October 1, 2012). With the start of H-1B season looming, employers
should review their workforce and recruitment pool to determine
whether they will need to file a petition for fiscal year 2013.
H-1B visas are reserved for workers in a specialty occupation
that requires a Bachelor's Degree or higher. USCIS grants these
visas in three-year increments, for up to six years. If an employer
wishes to employ an H-1B worker, it must file an H-1B petition and
offer the potential employee a wage that meets the prevailing wage
for the position in the geographical area of employment.
Additionally, the employer must satisfy a number of mandatory
notice requirements.
