Describe the H-1B and EB-1 visas

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Two primary visas are important to employers—the H-1B visa and the EB-1 visa. The H-1B visa is issued to an employee in a professional or specialty occupation (generally one requiring a bachelor's degree or higher) when the employer can show difficulty in recruiting qualified workers in the United States. The visa is generally good for three years and can be renewed for an additional three years. During that time, the employer can sponsor the visa holder for a green card, and if it is granted, the visa holder becomes a permanent resident. If not, the worker must return to his or her home country. When a worker has an H-1B visa, immediate family members may accompany him or her to the United States on an H-4 visa. The annual cap on H-1B visas is currently set at 65,000, so competition for them is strong.
The EB-1, or employment-based, first-preference visa, is granted to a person who: a) has extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics through sustained national or international acclaim; b) is an outstanding professor or researcher; or c) is a multinational executive or manager. Each occupational category has certain requirements that must be met. People in the first category apply for the visa themselves; the employer applies for the visa for those in the other two categories. An employee with an EB-1 visa can apply for U.S. citizenship, usually within five years. Fewer than 50,000 of these visas are issued every year, so competition for them is strong.