I am a student on F1 - OPT working at Intel for a while now. I have been looking for other opportunities and have a promising one from Amazon coming up soon. The problem is that Intel will be applying for my H1B visa lottery and and I have the Amazon interview next week. I am not sure if Amazon will be able to file for my Visa on time if I confirm by third week of March. Should I still go for the interview or should I just tell them my concerns?
Yes they can. Try to get Amazon done by 16-17th March. In a worst case you already have a job from Intel
Just proceed with your Amazon interview next week. Don't reveal anything right know. Here are the 2 possible cases once you receive an offer from Amazon. 1- You will know by May end if your h1 petition is picked up in the lottery. If yes, then let the recruiter know that you will join once your petition is approved with Intel. If not, then you can join immediately in June.
Move to Canada
Had a similar situation but a month ago. Interviewed with Amazon and Facebook. Have offers from both, and they both have a cutoff date of joining being March 15 in order to be considered for H1B filing. The immigration team needs to start with LCA which takes time. I’m sorry but you’re too late for this. Having said that, it doesn’t hurt to interview. If you get an offer and you like it, you can join and skip this H1B attempt (assuming you have STEM extension and two more attempts after this). I was told this by Netflix, and I decided not to continue in their process (since I had already cleared Amazon, and Facebook was in final stages).
What is LCA and who give it? What is practical time to get it?
I wouldn’t risk H1 for jobs, you will get plenty of jobs, H1 is limited. That being said, interview for Amazon, they will wait if it all goes well, mostly Amazon is always hiring and even if the team you interview for can’t wait the recruiters will be able to move you to another team. Definitely focus on getting H1 first.
Interview. Wait until you hear about your H1. Ask Amazon to wait if you get H1.