Prior to law school, immigration attorney Tim Jones earned a degree in Biology Education and spent two years teaching—first at a residential treatment center in Utah, and then after moving to Idaho, at a public high school in Idaho Falls. He knows the challenges and rewards of teaching, and, given his teaching experience along with his many years of experience with successful H-1B applications, he’s uniquely qualified to assist with teacher H-1B visas.
Many schools will be able to avoid the H-1B lottery, meaning there’s a significantly higher chance the H-1B visa will be granted and there will be a more flexible start date—August or September instead of October. These cap-exempt schools must have an agreement with an institute of higher learning—typically an agreement with a university for university students to student teach at the school.
Schools that have difficulty finding qualified STEM teachers, or that have dual immersion programs, may be especially interested in H-1B visas. Need teachers who can speak both fluent English and fluent Spanish, or English and Mandarin? Chances are good that a nearby university has international students who will graduate soon and who, once they have a teaching license, will be qualified to teach—but won’t have work authorization. The H-1B visa process is often the best way to provide them with the right to work in the U.S.
H-1B visas are good for three years, and they can be extended for an additional three years. If the school wants to continue employment past that point, they can petition for the teacher to get a green card. This process is typically started at the time the 3-year extension is approved.
The H-1B process should be started several months before the school year starts. It is possible to expedite the process with premium processing, but only at a significant additional cost. Ideally the school or school district will want to retain an immigration attorney at least seven or eight months prior to the start of the school year—or even earlier, especially if the teacher is outside the U.S.
