H1B Transfer

I recently quit my job and while in the process of moving to a new company - being myself missed out a few major things. So below are a few of my lessons learned for anyone on an H1B visa looking to switch companies.
This information should only be used as a guideline. IT does not reflect the views of my employers or any lawyers I have worked with.

1. Don't quit as soon as you sign the offer letter.
2. The visa transfer process takes at least 3 weeks provided all the cogs in the machine are working correctly.
3. There is no harm in telling the recruiter that you will start work 2 weeks after your visa transfer comes through. This will give you enough time to give your 2 weeks notice and have a smooth transition to the new company as you will already have the H1B approval in hand.
4. When going through the visa transfer, your current employer has no idea that you are looking to move companies. You can have multiple companies with an approved transfer - H1B but can only work for one of them.
5. At the time of this writing to apply for an H1B transfer, the employee must have an LCA for the location when he/she will be working approved before the H1B is filed for. This takes between 7 to 10 days, all things working perfectly.
6. An H1b transfer of employer or a change of status is as complicated as applying for a fresh H1B
7. Once you quit, your current employer may cancel your health insurance so you may have to file for COBRA
8. Cobra is continued benefits for insurance so you will have to cover the premium while you are not employed.
9. If you do not hear from the lawyers in 2 days, makes sure you try to contact them and find out what the hold up is. In my experience, some can be slower for different reasons usually beyond their control. eg: LCA website is not working, vacations, missing paper work, mail delays (incomplete address)
10. If you quit/ are laid off and you haven't had time to plan for the above, your H1b visa transfer process may be a little more complicated. USCIS may not send you an 194 with your approval. In this case, you will have to reenter the country before you start working. This is not subject to the Oct 1st date. This just means you can walk over to Mexico or Canada (provided you have a visa) and come back (almost immediately)




-A