How to Find a Job Using an H1B Database
Posted by Frank Gogol in Immigrants | Updated on August 14, 2023
The H1B visa is one of the most sought-after visas, reserved for some of the most skilled and capable individuals in their field. The exclusivity of the H1B can make obtaining one difficult, and perhaps the greatest challenge is finding a suitable H1B sponsor.
Sponsoring an H1B visa can be extremely costly and time consuming for employers, due to the penalties put in place that disincentivize hiring foreign workers. This is why H1B databases can be useful: they connect prospective visa holders with motivated employers who sponsor H1B visas.
This article dives into the H1B visa, how it works, and how you can use an H1B database to enhance your search for a sponsor.
What is an H1B Visa?
The H1B visa provides legal work authorization and resident status to foreign workers, allowing them to work for companies in the United States. These visas are granted to a limited number of individuals with academic pedigree and technical expertise in a specialized field (for instance engineering, architecture, or Information Technology).
The H1B, unlike the Permanent Resident Card (aka green card), is a nonimmigrant visa, meaning the visa holder can only stay in the United States for a temporary period. H1B visas are valid for three years and can be extended for another three years as well.
While around 200,000 H1B applications are approved by the United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) each year, only 65,000 are allotted visas through the lottery. Applications are approved or rejected based on qualifications like work experience, educational credentials, and accolades; in the visa lottery, however, each candidate has an equal, random chance.
Benefits of an H1B Visa
The H1B visa is highly sought after because it affords the visa holder a number of benefits that are difficult to obtain from other temporary, nonimmigrant visas, including:
- Ability to stay in the country for up to 6 years, whereas other visas like the B-1 or J-1 allow periods as little as 6 months to a year
- Ability to transfer work authorization status to different employers (other work visas are often only granted for a single employer)
- Accessibility; any foreign national can apply for an H1B
- Moderate requirements; H1B applicants only require a Bachelor’s degree and a job offer from a US employer
- Ability to bring spouses and dependents to the US on H4 visas
Top 3 H1B Databases
H1B databases collect information on H1B sponsorship from employers around the country. This information is then inputted into a searchable database, allowing users to search all H1B sponsorships according to the parameters they choose. The following databases are three of the best known and most comprehensive.
1. H1B Visa Salary Database
One of the most thorough databases packed full of useful information is the database at H1Bdata.info. The search function on this database is simple, with fields for employer, city, job title, and year. Once you enter a search you can organize the results based on which factor you value most.
H1Bdata.info also includes in the results information on when the petition was submitted, whether it was certified complete, and even pay scale and the median income for the position. With this information, you can get an idea not only of the available positions but the potential compensation for related positions as well.
2. MyVisaJobs
The search field for the database at MyVisaJobs.com is more detailed than the H1Bdata.info database, letting you refine your search to find the perfect match. This database features search options for industry, case number, type (renewal, employer change, a new petition, etc.) and more. MyVisaJobs also lets you filter out results for cap exemption, willful violators, and H1B dependents. If you have a very specific type of employer or position in mind, then MyVisaJobs may be the best option.
3. Visadoor
The Visadoor database is similar to the H1Bdata.info database, with a simple search function for employer name, job title, work state, and fiscal year. Visadoor also provides a list of the most recent H1B petitions categorized by date, so you can get a glimpse of the employers currently sponsoring H1B petitions.
H1B Visa Cost
H1B sponsors must be highly motivated because sponsoring an H1B petition is costly, and the employer must bear the majority of the requisite costs. The following are the main fees required for an H1B petition:
- Basic Filing Fee (Form I-129): $460
- American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act: $750 for employers with 1-25 full-time employees, and $1500 for employers with 26+ employees
- Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee: $500
- Public Law 114-113 Fee: $4,000 for employers with 50+ employees, over half of who have H1B or L1 visa status
Read More
- 6 Ways to Find an H1B Visa Sponsorship
- How to Change Jobs on an H1B Visa
- The Non-ECR Category: A Guide
- H1B Visa Stamping: H1B Visa Interview Documents and More
- Complete Guide to the H1B to Green Card Process
- What Are My Options for Change of Status Visa Stamping If I Am Already in America?
- Guide to the H2B Visa
- H1B Transfer: How To Change Jobs on an H1B Visa
Conclusion
The H1B visa is reserved for skilled and experienced workers, but all it takes is a Bachelor’s degree and a job offer to have a good chance of acceptance. The toughest part of obtaining an H1B is getting the job offer since penalties are put in place specifically to dissuade companies from hiring foreign workers over Americans.
H1B databases are one of the simplest ways that you can enhance the effectiveness of your search for a sponsor. Whether you have a specific city, or job title, or company that you have in mind, you can use a database to find the best matches.
