My Thai girlfriend would like to work in USA

[marekrski]

Hi folks

my girlfriend would like to go this summer to usa for some work adventure. I have job offer for her and advise her to apply for H2B visa, cause i think that it is the best way to get it. She is planning to work only for 4 months and of course come back to Thailand.
Please advise me what steps should i do to help her as much as I can.
Does any of you maybe has the same situations. Is is easy to do it or rather impossible to get dreamt visa.
I forget to mention I am not usa citizen.

thanx so much in advance for your help

[marekrski]

what do you mean 'up to the employer'? Do you know maybe what her future employer should do to bring her to usa (any aditional document besides of job offer)?

[Rachel_Heath]

I'd just like to add that since you're just boy/girl friends you have no legal rights under her visa, even if she was to get it. Given the little information you've provided, it looks like you also may be a Thai resident. Thailand is not part of the Visa Waiver program and so you would also be required to get a travel Visa to allow you to enter the USA if you wished to join her on the adventure.

Good luck!

[Rachel_Heath]

She'd need to locate an employer over here that would be willing to provide the sponsorship for her to get the Visa.

Technically the employer must show that they are unable to source the employment locally which requires them first to undergo certain procedures as dictated by the relevent states employment agency. After all this is done then the employer can file form I-129 to start the process off.

Do not be totally disheartened though; There are many occasions where employers are used to this process are go through it regularly. I'd imagine that Walt Disney in both Florida and California are old hats at the process are are always looking for workers to fill in the peak demand during summer.

However please do be aware that the whole process must be completed prior to your girlfriend traveling to the US. Simply her getting a job offer alone is not enough. The whole process has to be completed on both the US and her end before you should even think of buying any plane tickets etc.

[Bevdeforges]

The potential employer has to file first - it's the process called "petitioning" in the reference Ray gave you. Once the petition has been approved, the job candidate then can apply for an H1B visa.

The petitions for summer, 2008 will be awarded in April, which means the potential employer doesn't have much time to get that application in. I've been following a number of articles in US newspapers lately about how many employers who normally hire short-term foreigners for the summer are unable to get their petitions approved. There are a limited number of H1B places available each year and they fill quickly.
Cheers,
Bev

[Rachel_Heath]

This page expands upon Bev's comment about caps.

[Rachel_Heath]

True, but there is still a cap

[Bevdeforges]

H1, H2, in any event, the numbers are capped - and at least in the Boston area the papers are full of stories about local companies that can't get their usual temporary help from overseas either for this summer or for the winter ski season.

It's a real disaster, even for businesses that have hired temporary foreign workers for decades.
Cheers,
Bev

[marekrski]

Originally Posted by Rachel_Heath

I'd just like to add that since you're just boy/girl friends you have no legal rights under her visa, even if she was to get it. Given the little information you've provided, it looks like you also may be a Thai resident. Thailand is not part of the Visa Waiver program and so you would also be required to get a travel Visa to allow you to enter the USA if you wished to join her on the adventure.

Good luck!

I am not Thai resident, now i apply for J1 visa for the fifth time in my life and each year i got it without any problems. I just want to help my girlfriend get her job in usa.
so first of all employer has to get aproval by sending petition I-129, am i right??
but maybe is there a chance just to get a visa using only job offer, what do you think?
thank you

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by marekrski

so first of all employer has to get aproval by sending petition I-129, am i right??
but maybe is there a chance just to get a visa using only job offer, what do you think?

On your J-1 you have the exchange program to "support" you. For just about any other sort of visa with working privileges you'll need the employer to petition on your behalf. Can your girlfriend get into one of the exchange programs you've used in the past? That would probably be the easiest way for her.
Cheers,
Bev