Alternatives to the H1-B Visa

The H-1B visa program is used by U.S. businesses to employ foreign workers in occupations that require theoretical and practical application of highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher (or its equivalent), such as scientists, engineers, or computer programmers. Although the H-1B visa program was designed to allow U.S. businesses to hire foreign workers to fill temporary business needs, a numerical Cap severely limits the use of the H-1B visa program, to 85,000 total each fiscal year.

Due to the numerical limits of the H-1B visa program, U.S. businesses are forced to find alternative methods to employ foreign workers. Fortunately, there are many alternatives to the H-1B visa under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act. This course, presented by Matthew Blaisdell (materials prepared by Jeremy Richards,  partner at Richards & Kruger), provides information on available alternatives to the H-1B visa program, including: TN Visa, L1 Visa, O1 Visa, and B-1 visa.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Understand the numerical limitations of the H-1B Visa program
2. Learn the basic requirements for: TN Visa, L1 Visa, O1 Visa, and B1 Visa
3. Identify alternative U.S. work authorization options
4. Assess how the identification of alternatives to the H-1B visa program can assist in employing foreign workers