As an international registered nurse or medical technologist, the H-1B visa lottery offers a fast route to working in the U.S. While the ultimate outcome of being entered into the lottery is to be selected and therefore have your U.S. immigration process fast-tracked, this isn’t guaranteed. In this article, we look at what to expect after the H-1B lottery, whether you were selected or not.
If you are considering starting a new career as a healthcare professional in the United States, chances are you want to get there as quickly as you can. Applying directly for the EB-3 Green Card visa is quite a lengthy process, especially when it is impacted by Priority Dates. The H-1B visa lottery, however, offers a significantly faster route into the U.S. Healthcare professionals who are selected in the lottery can end up relocating to the United States within a matter of months. Read more about the H-1B process here.
What happens if you are selected in the H-1B visa lottery?
Congratulations – you’ve been successful in the H-1B visa lottery! A common misunderstanding is that this grants you a U.S. visa. However, being selected in the H-1B visa lottery means that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has selected you to be eligible to apply for an H-1B visa.
Conexus MedStaff will submit your H-1B petition to USCIS, including all required forms, supporting documents, and filing fees. Your petition will be processed, all information will be verified, and a background check will be conducted.
While this is happening, our teams will collaborate with you to confirm which of our partner healthcare facilities you will work at. They will also help you to prepare for your upcoming move.
Once the USCIS has approved your petition for H-1B status, you will receive your visa stamp in your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate… and you’re ready to work in the United States!
Because the H-1B visa is not a permanent residency option, our team will continue to process your EB-3 visa. In the meantime though, you are able to work in the U.S. and start living your version of the American dream.
What happens if you are not selected in the H-1B visa lottery?
The H-1B visa is a highly competitive immigration route, with hundreds of thousands of petitions entered into the lottery. This means that unfortunately, not everyone can be successful. While it may be disappointing to not be selected through the H-1B visa lottery, it is by no means the end of your future career in the U.S.
An EB-3 visa is the end goal for all Conexus MedStaff healthcare professionals. Even if you are entered into the H-1B visa lottery, we will continue to process your EB-3 visa, as that is what will grant you permanent residency in the United States. The process may be slower, but you have our team of immigration and legal experts working hard to make sure that your visa is processed as quickly as possible.
There are advantages to a longer immigration process; it gives you more time to prepare yourself mentally, financially, and professionally. After all, relocating to another country is a big move, and not just geographically!
If you are not selected in the H-1B visa lottery, there may be the opportunity to be re-entered the following year.
Whatever the outcome of being entered into the H-1B visa lottery, rest assured that Conexus MedStaff will operate with your best interests in mind at all times. We’re here to support you however we can, so that you can live your dream of being a healthcare professional working in the U.S.
Are you an international registered nurse or medical technologist looking to start a new career in the U.S.? Apply now to find out how we can help.
