VISANOW HIGHLIGHTS IMPACT OF RECENT CHANGES TO WORK AUTHORIZATION PROCESS FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS

New Options for F-1 Visa Holders Aim to Address Limitations Resulting from H-1B Visa Cap

CHICAGO, IL April 28, 2008 – Although an increase was not introduced to this year’s H-1B cap, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented two new avenues for employers to offset the limit on available options for employing skilled foreign workers. To help companies successfully manage these new options – which specifically impact work authorization options for foreign students on F-1 visas – leading immigration solutions provider VISANOW has outlined the changes and highlights the following impacts for employers:

• An automatic extension of Optional Practical Training (OPT) has been provided for F-1 visa holders who have graduated and filed an H-1B application for the following fiscal year H-1B cap. This extension allows F-1 visa holders to remain in the U.S. and work up until the beginning of their expected H-1B visa employment start date of October 1st.



• Under the new rule, F-1 visa holders who have completed a science, technology, engineering or mathematics degree and are offered employment with a U.S. company are now provided with up to 29 months of OPT. This is a significant extension beyond the 12 months previously allowed through the program. This additional 17 months of OPT can be offered only by companies enrolled in the E-Verify employment verification program.

Following a record breaking H-1B visa application period in 2007, nearly 163,000 applications were received during the 2008 filing period beginning April 1st, including more than 31,000 filed under the U.S. Master’s cap exemption. With a 65,000 limit set on the number of standard applications approved and 20,000 for those filed for the advanced degree category, both of these caps were far surpassed once again this year. Those applications not selected through a random lottery policy will be returned and the employers’ options will be limited.

“These new programs introduced by the USCIS begin to address a widely recognized issue among U.S. employers,” stated Bob Meltzer, CEO of VISANOW. “Although it is merely a start, the extension of the OPT program will allow employers who have filed an H-1B application for a new employee on an F-1 visa to begin their work experience immediately rather than having to wait months for their H-1B approval. On a global economic level, changes like these must happen for U.S. employers to maintain their competitive edge.”

In addition, the 29 months of OPT now available for F-1 visa holders who have completed a science, technology, engineering or mathematics degree will provide these students with three opportunities to apply for an H-1B visa within their work authorization period. Following the recent years of heightened application volume, this extended time is a benefit not only to employers, but also to the USCIS as the required enrollment in the E-Verify program should increase U.S. employer participation in the verification program.

To learn more about these work authorization options and H-1B alternatives, please visit www.visanow.com or contact us as info@visanow.com.

About VISANOW
VISANOW has redefined the way immigration services are delivered with a process that consistently provides faster responses, allows greater access to information and saves time. Since 1998, VISANOW has combined superior client support and innovative technology designed to simplify the immigration process for corporations and their foreign employees.

Contact: Paul Colman
312-525-2819
colman@visanow.com