You should be OK, you're under the 20k limit aren't you? Besides, you get an year of free OPT too, hey ;p

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I am under the 20k limit but by the time I get my degree it'll be ~May 25 and the 20k visas are also expected to get over in no time because MS (or higher) graduates from Summer 2006 and Fall 2006 will be applying in that quota as well.

I do have my OPT, yeah, but my OPT is till May 2008. There will be a 2 month grace period after that. And even after the grace period, I will be out of status for 3 months :-S That's why I have to file my H1 in this year's quota itself.

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When you get your degree doesn't have too much to do with when your employer files your petition, as long as it is evident you will be finishing up over the summer.

Do you have an employer filing for you already?

Further bad news for you - I know several foreigners [non Canadians] applying for H1B petitions *this* year, from Canada too.

And yes, all this does sound fucked up, I agree.

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When you get your degree doesn't have too much to do with when your employer files your petition, as long as it is evident you will be finishing up over the summer.

AFAIK, the minimum that is required to file a H1 in the Masters quota is an academic transcript with all the grades which will show that all the degree requirements have been satisfied (if not the degree or the diploma) and a verification certificate from the registrar which has the month/year of graduation. So, I guess i'll have to wait till May anyways.

I donot have an employer who is filing for my H1 *yet* but am hoping to hear back from one sometime this week.

And yeah, Spring graduates like me this year are in deep shit!

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AFAIK, the minimum that is required to file a H1 in the Masters quota is an academic transcript with all the grades which will show that all the degree requirements have been satisfied (if not the degree or the diploma) and a verification certificate from the registrar which has the month/year of graduation. So, I guess i'll have to wait till May anyways.

I'm fairly sure you're wrong. The employer files the petition and doesn't need to prove you have a Masters (a bachelor's degree is sufficient for an H1B petition) and the USCIS could happily approve the petition.

Sure, at the time of visa stamping on passport at a consulate, they may want to see that you've finished the coursework/verification certificate, etc. but at the time of the employer filing your petition, you don't need any of that stuff. i.e. your employer could file your petition TODAY.

Good luck with stuff potta, I hope it works out for you.

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Yup, you're right. My friend has just spoken to the HR Dept of his company and confirmed this. Thanks Ravi, it really helped. Now, I have to find out how long the 20,000 quota is expected to last and act accordingly!

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http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=22063 [PDF]

That's a USCIS update from today, April 10.

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Thanks for the link, Ravi! A lot has happened over the past 3 days ... its just too much to fit it in a comment. Will call you on your CA number sometime, that ok?

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Sure, sounds good! Looking fwd to talking to you. (hope its all good news)

When you call my CA number, my girlfriend will most likely pick it up. She doesn't speak too much english, so please speak slowly if you get her ... thanks!

I'm unavailable all day Friday, and most of the day saturday. We can talk late saturday evening or on sunday if you like. I'm unavailable today (Thursday) too ... sorry, running a real tight schedule :(

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Oh, thats no problem. I will call you either late Saturday or on Sunday. It's the 514-xxx-xxxx number right? Or the 415- one? Always get confused :P

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Ravi's cell: (514) 433-8732 [Canada]
Ravi's home: (415) 513-5370 [USA]
Ravi's home: (514) 907-8746 [Canada]

I guess you want the US number, i.e. the 415 number.

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And yeah, I did submit all my documents for filing H1 just today morning ... but am just waiting to hear from the attorney to see what he has to say!

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All is well for you, bro. :)

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Saw that Ravi, thanks! :) Called you on sunday ... will call again sometime this weekend, nash_da_basher is coming over!

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Thanks for the voice mail. Sorry I couldn't return your call, life's been busy :-( I'll call you guys after 8 PM (when I get home) tonight, eastern time. Ciao!

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A friend of mine had his H1-B rejected because he had applied in the Masters quota without a Masters degree.

Another friend got a query on his H1 and he was asked to submit some form of proof in 90 days which proves that his date of graduation is before the date of filing petition.

I will fall into any of these 2 cases and both are equally bad for me :(

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Fuck, sorry bro. I'll keep my fingers Xed for you, and I hope some solution works itself out. Hang in there man, I'm hopeful that SKIL or the other thig will pass for 2008 and quotas will increase, and stuff for the next fiscal year, 2009. You can spend the bulk of this upcoming year on the OPT, and then you can get your H1B ...

... what the fuck were the lawyers who filed the paperwork doing though? I don't know about the requirements for the masters quota ... you'd think the bloody lawyers would know their jobs?! Bof!

I can't believe it's so hard for us to catch up on the phone. Hang in there bro, talk to you anon. Good luck until next time bro!

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Yeah, a lot of things were uncertain. And yeah, the lawyers were taking a chance since they knew the situation was very bad. There was always a 50-50 chance ... anyways, I have my fingers crossed and i'll talk to you soon!

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Theres only one...

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:D

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toobad...
i shuld've seen this earlier ...i shuld've recommended u to dad..
damn,
so anyways..what's the Update On ur Visa?

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Things just went from bad to worse ... query on my H1, its a little complicated :|

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