I have hired an attorney for processing the H1 case of one of my employees. She is from Florida, and quoting $3500 (Attorney fees only). It is just a simple H1-B visa application. :mad: I think its slightly steep, isn't it?

I have hired an attorney for processing the H1 case of one of my employees. She is from Florida, and quoting $3500 (Attorney fees only). It is just a simple H1-B visa application. :mad: I think its slightly steep, isnt it?
Very common price 800.00
You can get easily some one at : $500.00

If you can get hold of some attorneys assistant who knows this process, they may charge less.

Actually you can do it by yourself

Hi ranga,

Do you know someone who charges ~800 or ~500 dollars for H1b processing? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am not a member of this forum, can you please reply at [email protected]

Thanks a lot

Deepankar

Generally speaking, reputable attorneys charge between $1000 and $2000 as a fee for completing the H-1B visa application and follow-up. You can fill out the paperwork yourself or hire a non-attorney but I don't recommend it and not just because I'm an attorney :). So many changes occur in the law and at the service centers that it is difficult even for attorneys to keep up with the information. I personally spend at least three to four hours a day reading about any changes or trends that might affect my clients and engaging in discussions with colleagues all over the U.S. about the same. Much of the material I read and use is available only through professional portals like Westlaw and AilaLink. And, of course attorneys attend numerous continuing legal education courses. Finally, attorney members of AILA have "AILA attorney access" to the USCIS both to obtain relevant information and if a mistake has been made in the processing of the application. I can't tell you how many times I've been hired after an individual has filed his or her own H-1B application only to have it disappear somewhere at USCIS with no answer or explanation. Other times, I have been called in to address Requests for Further Evidence (RFE's) because of mistakes that were made in the H-1B. Finally, with the H-1B applications vastly outnumbering the available H-1B slots, it is absolutely imperative that the H-1B be filled out perfectly. With the H-1B Lottery in place, an incorrectly filled out and then rejected H-1B application will not have even a chance to be considered in the lottery (because by the time you get the rejected application back, the Lottery will have already occurred). My advice is to get the most value for your money and the way to do that is to hire an attorney who will personally prepare (or at least supervise) the H-1B application, who is a member of AILA, and who has a successful track record of filing applications. A final note, if you eventually intend to pursue citizenship, know that everything you do with any visa will be scrutinized and considered so an attorney should examine an H-1B visa application to ensure there also is no negative effect somewhere down the line. -Susan Pai, Attorney at Law (http://www.strongvisa.com). ***DISCLAIMER: The information provided here and on www.StrongVisa.com (http://www.strongvisa.com) is of a general nature and should not be construed as specific answers to particular circumstances. None of the information presented here is to be interpreted as legal advice nor presumed indefinitely up to date.