H-1B Visa Delays Mean IT Project Delays in the United States

We all know well how inconvenient the current H-1B visa delays are for foreign workers, but new information shows that the longer wait times on H-1B visa application approvals can affect entire companies - and our economy.

While the H-1B application process used to take two to four weeks, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) now asks employers and workers to allow sixty days to have their information processed. Companies say that they had had to wait up to eight weeks for approval, visa status changes, and visa extensions.

Many companies' worker plans are delayed even longer due to USCIS requests for information regarding positions and wages. At the same time, while some can pay an expensive fee to expedite the process, even they must wait 45 days for approval.

The result is that many companies are missing deadlines and initiatives. Even one missing worker can mean that company-wide plans are dashed and money is lost. The long-term result may be that more IT offices and technology jobs are moved offshore to avoid visa issues and project delays.

If you or your company needs assistance in navigating the H-1B process, we may be able to help. Contact the California immigration lawyers at the Law Offices of Vaughan de Kirby by calling 415-221-2345 or by filling out the contact form at the top of this page.