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Here’s another edition of “Ask Sophie™,” the advice column that answers immigration-related questions about working at technology companies.
“Your questions are vital to the spread of knowledge that allows people all over the world to rise above borders and pursue their dreams,” says Sophie Alcorn, a Silicon Valley immigration attorney. “Whether you’re in people ops, a founder or seeking a job in Silicon Valley, I would love to answer your questions in my next column.”
Dear Sophie,
Our startup gave up our office space in Silicon Valley during the pandemic – our team has been working remotely since then. We’re looking to fill several new engineering positions.
We have not gone through the immigration process with employees before, and a couple of prospective hires will require visas. One is currently on an H-1B and living in Dallas. Another candidate is currently living in Germany and wants to work from Miami.
What should we consider before hiring these engineers? How do we handle being fully remote when it comes to immigration?
— Distributed and Determined
Image Credits: Joanna Buniak / Sophie Alcorn
Dear Distributed,
The pandemic rapidly shifted the way we work – how, when and where! Many companies like yours now have a distributed or a hybrid workforce.
I recently had a great talk with Hannah Genton, a founding partner of CGL, a corporate law firm that has had a fully distributed team since it launched in 2017. The podcast episode covers many lessons learned based on Hannah’s work with startup clients; she described issues that startups should keep in mind, particularly if they have distributed or hybrid teams.
Protecting your company
Genton says that consulting a corporate attorney before extending a job offer, taking on equity or debt, or signing major contracts will help you make informed decisions and protect your company from penalties and lawsuits. Corporate, employment, and privacy laws differ in each state, so you should know what you can and can’t do in each state. A corporate attorney can also guide you in creating a distributed work policy for your company.
I also recommend consulting an immigration attorney before moving forward with the two prospective new hires you mentioned! An immigration attorney can guide you through the H-1B transfer process, next steps to retain that person after the H-1B visa is set to expire, and assess the most promising visa options available at the time. I list some of the most common work visas that startups use to sponsor talent in this TechCrunch article, but an attorney can also assist you in devising a solid immigration strategy based on your company’s goals and timing.
Now, let me dive into your other questions…
What should I know about H-1B transfers?
You should know that the maximum stay allowed under an H-1B is six years—unless the employer or the H-1B visa holder has already started the green card process. Given that, you should find out:
- how long your prospective hire in Dallas has been in the U.S. on H-1B status
- when the H-1B is set to expire
- whether the candidate or the candidate’s current employer has filed for a green card, and if so, when.
Under the American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act (AC21) individuals with an H-1B have the flexibility to change jobs during the green card process and the ability to extend their H-1B visa beyond the six-year limit to avoid having to leave the U.S. while waiting for a green card.
Keep in mind that an H-1B transfer does not reset the clock on the six-year maximum the individual can live and work in the U.S. on an H-1B visa. If the individual’s current H-1B is set to expire in two years, that will remain the expiration date you need to work with when their H-1B visa is transferred to your company. To retain that individual in the U.S. beyond six years, you will need to sponsor them for a green card or another visa, such as the O-1A extraordinary ability visa.
If the candidate has a green card application (Form I-140) that has already been approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) – and at least 180 days have passed since USCIS received the candidate’s Form I-485, the last part of the green card process – then your startup will be able to extend the candidate’s H-1B visa beyond the six-year H-1B limit. If the I-140 was approved, but an I-485 has not been filed or it has not been at least 180 days since the I-485 was filed, then you will have to start the green card process again. However, the individual will retain the priority date (which determines the individual’s place in line for a green card), which is significant for individuals who were born in India or China and face long waits for green cards due to annual country quotas.
To do an H-1B transfer, your company would need to file both a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the U.S. Department of Labor that requires you to pay the prevailing wage based on the position and the location of the position and an H-1B application with USCIS. Take a look at these two previous Ask Sophie™ columns in which I talk about H-1B transfers and what makes a strong H-1B application.
Can I sponsor visas without a physical office?
Yes! We have been successful at supporting employers with distributed employees to get petitions approved to sponsor individuals for visas and green cards even if they don’t have a physical office. It’s important in these situations to work with your legal team to list the worksite locations of your employees (such as their home addresses) on all immigration-related forms and documents.
If an employee moves their residence, thereby changing the worksite location, talk to your immigration attorney because you may be required to file an amended visa application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). For the H-1B specifically, you may need to repost or file a new LCA with the Labor Department as well.
You should know that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other government officials may ask employers to verify that all of their employees are legally allowed to work in the U.S. by asking to inspect a company’s Form I-9, or Employment Eligibility Verification, for all employees. Since March 2020, the government has been inspecting I-9 documents virtually rather than during in-person inspections as was the case pre-pandemic. While the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees USCIS and ICE, is considering making this virtual inspection option permanent, the flexibilities related to Form I-9 compliance is set to expire on Oct. 31, 2022.
You’ve got this!
—Sophie
Have a question for Sophie? Ask it here. We reserve the right to edit your submission for clarity and/or space.
The information provided in “Ask Sophie™” is general information and not legal advice. For more information on the limitations of “Ask Sophie™,” please view our full disclaimer. You can contact Sophie directly at Alcorn Immigration Law.
Sophie’s podcast, Immigration Law for Tech Startups, is available on all major platforms. If you’d like to be a guest, she’s accepting applications!
