H1b can only be renewed once?!!!!

[trilingdoc]

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hi: I just saw somewhere in this forum that H1b can only be renewed once (and in total of 6 years!), for those foreigners doing residency in US, is this for real???

Any one has any idea about this? Thanks in advance

 

[Shinken]

An H1B visa is valid for a total of 6 years only, and cannot be extended beyond that. I don't know what you mean by "renewed". Your H1B visa is tied to your employer. Every time you switch to a different employer (or hospital, if you're doing residency) then you have to reapply for a new H1B visa. You can do this as many times as you want, but your total H1B visa time in the US is six years. For example, if employer X hires you and sponsors you for an H1B visa, and you work for them for five years and decide to work somewhere else, you can do that. You have to apply for a new H1B visa sponsored by your new employer, but you can only work for your new employer for 1 year because you already used up 5 of your allowed 6 years as an H1B employee. Before your 6 years are up you should try to get a green card, otherwise you have to leave the country.

Keep in mind that there's a quota on the number of H1B visas that can be granted each year, so applying early is a must, otherwise by the time you apply for one you might not get it and will have to wait until the following year (kind of like applying to med school if you think about it...except with less gunners and obnoxious people).

Go to this website for good information:

http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/index.htm

Immigration laws are complex, so if you're really thinking of doing this get the help of a good lawyer that specializes in immigration and naturalization law. They're worth their weight in gold (never thought I'd say that of a lawyer). I'm not a lawyer, just someone who's gone through the H1B visa process three times for three different employers. Good luck!

 

[trilingdoc]

Thanks for your time, Shinken

but as there are some 5-year or longer residency programs out there, such as gen. surgery, does it mean that I would be deprived of my chance to these programs, if i am not lucky enough to get green card in 6 years ?

Just getting confused 😕

 

[Shinken]

Well, I'm giving you my (limited) knowledge and experience in dealing with H1B visas as an engineer. I don't think it would be different in the medical world. My guess is that before your six years are up, your employer (the hospital where you do your residency) might sponsor you for a green card.

Also, according to First Aid for the USMLE (2001 edition), you need to have passed all three steps of the USMLE before becoming eligible for an H1B visa.

My advice is to either get a hold of a lawyer familiar with US immigration law and/or the hospital where you want to do residency in. They might also tell you what others before you have done.

 

[Meat Cookie]

The trick is to apply for permanent resident status ASAP so that by the end of the 6 years you don't need any more visas. For physicians on H1B this is apparently a smooth and easy process.

 

[trilingdoc]

Thanks to all of your inputs, I get it

🙂