British Expatriate Network

Good Morning America,
Good Afternoon Britain,

I am looking for some information if any one can help!

I have accepted a job in New Jersey.
The Company that I will be working for have submitted paperwork to the immigration department and are now waiting to hear from them!
Does anybody have any idea how long this sort of thing takes?
I am assuming that I can not start work in the States until I have been accepted by the immigration authorities?

If somebody could give me some idea of the time scales I could at least start planning?

With Thanks,

Per roll

If you are going for an H visa then it really does depend when the forms were submitted. We were recently informed that the number of H visas allocated for 2004/5 has already been met! If you are not part of this then I really have no clue. If you are then our took 10 weeks but that was before 9/11 so I don't know if they take longer now or not.

If it is an L visa (which from the way you have worded your post I get the impression it wouldn't be) then they generally take around 6 to 8 weeks as a general approximation. But again we got ours before 9/11 (and after we had our H visa) so I don't know if they are taking longer.

Also depends if your company paid the 'expeditious filing fee' (Aka bribe) of $1,000 to have it processed quickly - if so you should hear within 14 days.

Britman,

See my reply (and those of others) here:

http://www.british-expats.com/phpBB/view...hp?t=15064

You really need to read the UCIS website and find out all about the visa you're applying for and what it means to you. Don't just leave it up to your employer!