1- What does this fact mean for foreign students studying in the US, regarding their job search in the US?
2- What will be a good time for a foreigner to start searching for AND landing a job here that requires H1B sponsorship?
Lets assume that you complete your course work and graduate after the summer semester (in the July / August time frame) and immediately start looking for a job. So, is there a chance in this case that no company would be willing to hire (and sponsor) you because they can only start sponsoring in April next year?
Foreign students who are currently studying in the US can get an OPT for one year after graduation. This OPT allows them to get a job without going through the H-1B visa for that one year. At the end of the OPT period they either have to leave US or have their employer apply for an H-1B visa on their behalf. So, the cap reached on H-1B for 2007 does not impact foreign students who are studying right now.
Any foreigner who is currently planning to come over to the US for job under H-1B visa should make sure that you have secured a job and your H-1B visa application is filed before April 1, 2008. Usually that means interviewing with perspective employers in Feb-Mar 2008 time frame (or slightly earlier). Aplying for jobs should start in January 08 timeframe. Again it depends on the kind of industry one is in and how long is the recruitment process.
Thanks Faisal. That was helpful. Let me elaborate my case.
I am on F-1 till May 2008. However, my current circumstances are such that I need to leave school and find a job in the August / September / October 2007 time-frame.
What I am worried about is will I be able to secure a job by this time i.e. will companies be willing to hire H1's at that time of the year?
Also, if I do get a job in that time frame, will the company make me wait till April 2008 before I can be on their pay role?
Advice from other members will be appreciated. Thanks.
No employer can get you an H-1B visa right now. Since H-1B visa cap is already reached for 2007. I am not sure about your current circumstances, but even in F-1 visa, can't you do some limited (20 hours a week) kinda work? That may be your best option short of getting paid under the table from a fishy employer.
By the way, even if you get a job with an employer now, you won't join their payroll in April 2008 (unless you join them in OPT). They will merely sponsor your H-1B visa at that time and the actual visa will come to allow you to start work on October 1, 2008.
Queer - Its a masters degree program. Is that separate cap reached also?
Faisal - So this means I cannot get on a full-time payroll this year in any case. Are there no alternatives / special circumstances for the companies to get foreginers on the payroll till the H1-B is applied for and issued (other than the OPT)? Seems like I WILL have to finish the degree.
I can get a 20 hour job but that won't solve my problems. I had hoped to find a job by September 2007, however, I was obviously mis-informed.
Wane, the masters cap for this years visas was reached a month from the opening date. But this shouldn't worry you as of now.
What field are you in? Do you have a job lined up yet? Do you have exact dates?
Unless your uni's Intl students office is horrible, they would be willing to work with you with CPT extensions and OPT dates to cover you until next years quota availability. I would strongly recommend talking to your intl stdnt counseler about your concerns, they encounter such cases every day and are usually on your side.
And if you find employment at a university, you can get an H-1B which doesn't fall under any quota restrictions. Usually there are plenty of openings salaries might be a wee bit lower than industry though.
queer, I have masters in comp science with 4.5 yrs exp and was pursuing masters in business administration. However, due to some personal issues, I can no longer complete this degree and need to find work come August / September 2007 (meaning leaving the degree program). I do not have a job lined up right now. I can avail the OPT / CPT option only if I complete this degree and that is not possible for me right now.
were you previously employed with an H-1B? if so, you wont need to worry about quotas and caps.
if not, is your CS masters from a US uni? if you used CPT and OPT while on this masters program, it might not be available for an MBA degree as its considered another masters degree..
that said, CPT can be availed even before you complete your degree. You could try an internship.
your safest bet, imho, is a job with a university/academic institution until next yrs quotas open up. plenty of CS engineering openings in labs at good universities, i'd start looking if i were in your position.