This nonimmigrant classification applies to people who wish to perform services in a specialty occupation, services of exceptional merit and ability relating to a Department of Defense (DOD) cooperative research and development project, or services as a fashion model of distinguished merit or ability.
An H-3 classification applies to an alien who is coming temporarily to the United States:
(1) As a trainee, other than to receive graduate medical education or training, or training provided primarily at or by an academic or vocational institution, or
(2) As a participant in a special education exchange visitor program which provides for practical training and experience in the education of children with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
Family members of the H-1B foreign worker are admitted to the United States in the H-4 category. Qualifying family members include only the spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old. H-4 dependents are admitted for the same period of time for which the H-1B foreign worker is admitted. H-4 dependents may alternatively be admitted in other nonimmigrant categories for which they qualify. H-4 dependents may undertake studies while remaining in the H-4 category, however, they may not engage in any form of employment.
The H-2B visa category is used by U.S. employers to temporarily employ skilled or unskilled foreign nationals in nonagricultural positions for which the employer has a temporary need and for which qualified U.S. workers are unavailable. The company must plan to employ the foreign nationals for a temporary period and the employer’s need for the skills of the foreign nationals must also be temporary. In addition, the employer must seek a “labor certification” from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) certifying that:
Application Mailed: Sep. 30, 2008
Priority Date: Oct. 1, 2008
Finger Printing: Oct. 30, 2008
Interview: Jan 26, 2009.
I'm on the west coast (California):
Application Mailed: Sep, 2008
Finger Printing: Oct, 2008
Interview: Jan, 2009
Here are a few things worth mentioning:
- Dont take your cell phone with you. One of the offices(fingerprints) didn't allow them at all. The other office wouldn't let me take my cell phone in as it had a camera on it.
Take all your old passports (as well as your current one) that include entry into the U.S since getting your green card.
Following are my Dates:
Application Mailed: Sep, 2008
Priority Date: Sep, 2008
Finger Printing: Oct, 2008
Interview: Jan, 2009
My Interview was scheduled at 10:00 am today. Reached the location at around 9.35 am. Submitted the forms and were asked to wait for the name to be called.
They ran out of slots for the 10/30 oath about 7 people before me, so after that all of us got the N652 with "civics test/English passed" and "congratulations; it seems you are eligible...etc etc checked off, and when they handed it to to us they said our oath letters will be in the mail soon.
Hey people, finally got approved after the priority date got current. had my interview in milwaukee, yesterday 5/17. i noticed while i waited for him to finish something else that the approved stamp was already placed on the file in front of the desk. i verified to see if it was the same A number as mine and it was. so after a minute he simply took my signature and fingerprint on an unfilled form which i hope he filled out later while he was still on the phone. he then proceeded to tell me that all was well and i could go.
I got sworn in today in Atlanta. I am going to try and give you a low down on the process and I'll post my timeline at the end.
I got in at 9:45 am ( that was my appointment time), but they don't hold it down real fast.
I dropped off my appoinmment letter and finally got called in at 11.20am.
The interview process is rather simple: he asked me questions on the form ( have u ever been a member of a communist party etc).
Here's the good news, if he/she asks you to start sgning stuff, you are on your way, don't trip yourself now.
Got naturalised today at Newark, NJ as well.
My interview was scheduled at 1:00 and I got there at 12:50 pm.
I was called in at 1:30 pm and the interview lasted 7 minutes. The interviewer was very courteous. He verified that the information in the form was correct. Asked me to sign the name change form (since I had request a name change). Asked the 6 history/civics questions, all of which I answered correctly and handed me the approval notice and told me to show up at 3:00 pm for the Oath.
I was not asked for any documentation whatsoever.
Please see signature for updated timeline. Really impressed with how quickly this case has been processed.
We got married in May and dont live together because of our work situation but I have the following documents so far :
NOTE : The joint financial stuff is only a month old since we just got married in May.
FINANCIAL STUFF
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1. Joint savings account
2. Joint credit card
3. Added her name to my apartment lease