Sequence of events after the match:
1- State Medical License
This maybe not be applicable for every State, but most states require a State medical license for H1-B petition. Apply for State medical license, in the State you matched. Your program will send the link or application material with instructions. Information is also readily available on respective state medical board’s website.
Documents required:
-Medical school degree and grade transcript
-Medical school verification (a standard form which is signed by the medical school and is either emailed or snail mailed to the board)
-ECFMG certificate
-USMLE transcript or certificates for Steps 1, 2CK, 2CS/OET, and 3
-If you have held license from other states, a verification of good standing is also required from that state medical board. (this is usually not a case for many of our applicants). Talk to your PC.
2- Petition for H-1 (filed by attorney, adopted from website Herman Legal Group)
Your job in this whole step is to submit signed documents and pay relevant fee.
The H-1B application process comprises three steps:
- Submitting a labor condition application to the Office of Foreign Labor Certification.
- Submitting a certified LCA and the “Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker,” Form I-129 to the USCIS.
- Obtaining the visa from the Department of State (DOS). If the foreign worker is already in the U.S., USCIS will provide an I-797 approval notice that acts as employment authorization allowing the individual to work under the approved H-1B petition.
The sponsoring employer must also make attestations and submit a labor condition statement to the Wage and Hour Division (WHD).
Labor Condition Application (“LCA”)
The sponsoring employer must file the Labor Condition Application LCA with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The LCA requires that an employer make attestation that:
The doctor’s or physician’s working conditions will not adversely affect currently employed U.S. physicians;
There is no strike or lockout of medical workers at the facility;
The employer notified its employees that an LCA had been filed. A prospective employee has to get one copy of the LCA.
The DOL may investigate an employer to determine whether it complies with provided statements, and if conclude that the employer misrepresented any material, they may impose severe penalties.
Once the LCA is certified by the DOL, the employer must submit Form I-129 to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), petitioning for the H-1B visa on behalf of the foreign worker, accompanied by all supporting documents. Form I-907 for premium processing can also be filed at the same time to guarantee a decision on the petition in 15 days. This requires an additional fee of 2500 USD. (See fee structure below)
After getting an approved petition by the USCIS, the H-1B worker who is outside the US may apply with the U.S. Department of State (DOS) at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad for an H-1B visa and then apply to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for admission to the US under H-1B status.
Required Documents for H1B Petition
In addition to your and family biodata, the following documents required:
-Medical school degree and transcript;
-ECFMG certificate;
-USMLE transcript or certificates for Steps 1, 2CK, 2CS/OET, and 3;
-License or other document verifying that you have been admitted to the practice of medicine in the country where you obtained your medical degree (PMDC Registration)
-License or Certificate of Registration from the State Board of Medicine confirming your eligibility to participate in the medical residency program (mostly Temporary state medical license)
-Up to date resume including current home address, home telephone number, cell phone number, and preferred email
-Social security card, recent pay stubs or pay checks if you are authorized to work in the United States prior to this application
-If you are in the United States or have ever been to the United States proof of legal immigration status from initial entry to the present time/date of departure. (Form I-20; employment authorization card; Form I-797, receipts for any immigrant visa applications filed and pending with the Immigration Service)
-Current, valid passport - all pages even the blank ones;
-An expired passport if used for entry into the United States - all pages including the blank ones; and
-If you are currently in the United States, Form I-94, Arrival Record, issued upon entry to the United States.
-If you have family members (spouse and/or unmarried children under the age of 21) who will be dependent upon your visa status, provide the following information for each family member: Full name and date of birth: current home address; social security number, if any; marriage certificate; birth certificates for children; passport - all pages and Form I-94; as well as proof of legal immigration status from initial entry to the present time. They will be permitted on H-4
H1-B Fee structure
Bolded is the money that you might be required to pay, rest is paid by the program
3- Completing visa interview form (DS160)
-Once the petition is approved, the attorney will send you all documents electronically or via mail.
-Complete the visa application for you and dependents separately
-Pay visa interview fee $180 (Equivalent PKR on current prevailing USD to PKR rate)
-Submit visa application with approved portion and other documents attached.
-Go for interview.
Documents you take with you for interview:
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- Passport Picture 2x2 dimensions, please review CEAC website for background requirements.
- CNIC
- Marriage certificate (if married issued by Nadra), birth certificate (if you have children)
- DS160 confirmation page
- Also you would need to bring copies of the following documents as the principal holder and submit them to the appropriate department of the embassy;
- A copy of the labor condition application.
- Your original form I-797 approval notice.
- A copy of the signed I-129 petition which your attorney will share with you, all pages
- A valid passport must not expire until six months after your H-1B visa expiration.
- Your educational documents
- Without these documents and the prescribed payment, an applicant cannot go for H-1B stamping at the chosen department. Hence you must meet these documentation requirements and have a current job start date before visa stamping.
- Once visa is approved you will collect passport with visa from a designated location
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Visa is given for 1 year duration only, some people have petition approved for multiple years yet embassy stamps one year only. This is standard practice.
4- Protectorate stamping
It is mandatory for every Pakistani (with valid work visa) to get the passport stamped from the Protectorate of Emigrants to leave Pakistan. It is extremely important to understand that, without a protectorate passport, the Pakistani airport personnel will not allow one to take an international flight.
Documents you will need for protectorate stamping:
- Your I797, original
- Contract or a conditional offer of employment from the employer.
- Pakistani passport.
- Passport size photos (bring a good amount)
- Pakistani CNIC (Computerised National Identity Card)
- Next of kin information (including CNIC for recipient of insurance compensation)
- Bank challan receipts.
- Life insurance.
Details of offices are below
Karachi
Address: 14-J, Block No.6, Near KFC, Nursery, PECHS, Karachi Tel: +92-21-34531941 ,+92-21-34398711 Fax: +92-21-34531940
Areas of Jurisdiction: Province of Sindh including Districts Lasbela, Khuzdar, Gawadar (Pasni, Jiwani and Ormara) of Baluchistan.
Rawalpindi
Address: Meridian Mall, 1st Floor, Main Murree Road, Rehmanabad Metro Bus Stop, Rawalpindi
Tel: +92-51-9290439, +92-51-9290543 Fax: +92-51-9290442
Areas of Jurisdiction: Districts Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Gujrat, Mandi Bhauddin, Islamabad and Territory of State of Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
Peshawar
Address: Canal Road, Sikandar Town, Opposite Gulbahar Police Station, GT Road, Peshawar
Tel: +92-91-2584426, +92-91-2584500 Fax: +92-91-2584464
Areas of Jurisdiction: Province of KPK and FATA excluding District Dir, Sawat & Malakand Agency, Kohistan, Buner, Chitral, Bajore Agency & Shangla.
Lahore
Address: 117-G Block, Model Town Lahore.
Tel: +92-42-99230338, +92-42-99230487
Areas of Jurisdiction: Districts Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Take Singh, Hafizabad, Sargodha, Mianwali, Khushab and Pak Pattan.
Quetta
Address: Banglow No. D-12, Railway Housing Society, Joint Road, Quetta
Areas of Jurisdiction: Province of Baluchistan excluding Districts Lasbela, Khuzdar, Gawadar (Pasni, Jiwani and Ormara).
Multan
Address: H.No. 338, Naqash band colony, Street FIA Wali, Chowk Rasheed abad, Multan
Tel: +92-61-9330438, 92-61-9330439 Fax: +92-61-9330437
Areas of Jurisdiction: Districts Multan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Lodheran, Muzafargrah, Sahiwal, Vihari and Khanewal
Malakand
Address: 2nd Floor, Gul City Center, Totakan road, Batkhela, Malakand.
Tel: +92-932-411483 Fax: +92-932-414783
Areas of Jurisdiction: Districts Dir, Sawat & Malakand Agency, Kohistan, Buner, Chitral, Bajore Agency & Shangla.
Dera Ghazi Khan
Address: House No. 5-C, Khyaban-e-Sawar, Multan Road Opp. Zarai Tarkeeati Bank Dere Ghazi Khan
Areas of Jurisdiction: Distt.D.G Khan, Bhakkar, Layyah, Rahimyaar Khan an Rajanpur
Sialkot
Address: 1st Floor, Kuwaiti Tower, Airport Road, Godhpur Sialkot
Tel: +92-52-9330200, +92-52-9330201
Areas of Jurisdiction: Distt. Gujranwala, Distt. Sialkot and Distt. Narowal
Get ready to travel to USA
What if the visa goes in administrative processing?
Administrative Processing.
All visas may not be approved on the day of interview. Visa officer may give you 221(g) paper and say your visa needs clearance. Don’t get scared. Your visa is not refused but going under security clearance due to name or date of birth mismatch. Your status on the travel document page (USTravelDocs) will stay “Refused” till visa clearance completed. You will get a questionnaire in an email with following questions. Take your time and don’t rush.
Answer all questions completely and accurately.
1- Your travel history outside your country of residence over the last 15 years, including locations visited, date visited, source of funds, and length of stay;
[Type response here]
[Continue…]
2- All prior passport numbers and country of passport issuance;
[Type response here]
[Continue…]
3-The names and dates of birth of any siblings (full, half, step, adopted), living or deceased;
[Type response here]
[Continue…]
4- The names and dates of birth of any children (minor and adult), living or deceased;
Type response here]
[Continue…]
5- The names and dates of birth of any former spouses or civil/domestic partners, living or deceased;
Type response here]
[Continue…]
6- All of your addresses where you have lived during the last 15 years, including dates of residence;
[Type response here]
[Continue…]
7-All phone numbers you have used in the last five years, including primary, secondary, work, home, and mobile numbers;
[Type response here]
[Continue…]
8-All email addresses you have used in the last five years, including primary, secondary, work, personal, and educational addresses;
[Type response here]
[Continue…]
9-All social media platforms and unique user names/handles for any websites or applications, including social media, you have used to create or share content (photos, videos, status updates, etc.) as part of a public profile within the last five years;
[Type response here]
[Continue…]
10- Your prior occupation(s) and employers for the last 15 years. Include employer name, dates of employment, employer address, telephone number, your job title, and a job brief description;
[Type response here]
[Continue…]
Time required for visa clearance varies from a few days to a few months. Contact APPNA or your alumni and don’t panic. Wish you all good luck!