H1b Visa transfer @ Google

Nov 1, 2021 42 Comments

I will be joining Google as an L5. I am being told the H1B visa transfer process would take 2 months to complete(with premium processing). Is this normal @ Google? The transfer is being processed by BAL.

Is there anyone that I can contact(other than the recruiter) to expedite the process?

new TC: 476k
YOE: 7

#google #workvisa #h1b

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TOP 42 Comments
  • Amazon
    disorientd

    Go to company page Amazon

    disorientd
    I went through this process very recently (September-October). Here is my timeline

    Day 0 - Accepted offer
    Day 7 - Questionnaire sent to me by BAL
    Day 8 - I filled questionnaire and uploaded docs
    Day 10 - Had a call with the case assistant to go over further process
    Day 16 - Filed LCA
    Day 23 - LCA approved. BAL Sent docs to Google for signature
    Day 31 - Google returned signed docs
    Day 36 - H1b change of employer petition filed at USCIS
    Day 37 - Received receipt notice
    Day 46 - Case was approved
    Day 53 - Lawyers received I-797 approval notice. They uploaded scanned copy and preparing to send it to me
    Day 61 (today) - They haven't sent it yet.

    It took 46 days from when I accepted the offer to getting H1b approval. It could have been more too if USCIS took more time to review my case. You can ask Google to give signed docs back faster and save some time there.
    Nov 1, 2021 4
    • Amazon
      gurney_h

      Go to company page Amazon

      gurney_h
      Ask your case attorney @kvpair.

      Most lawyers ask not to travel while a case is *in progress*. Lawyer will know exact details on what qualifies as "in progress" in this set of steps.

      (Standard disclaimer on this, this is just my observations over a couple of transfers. Ask your lawyer for exact details)
      Nov 1, 2021
    • Amazon
      xynjng!

      Go to company page Amazon

      xynjng!
      Damn. I was expecting within 10 to 15 days. This is super late
      Nov 4, 2021
  • Amazon
    gurney_h

    Go to company page Amazon

    gurney_h
    It's about right, they're just being slightly conservative.

    Takes about a month and a few days usually, minimum 3 weeks if you're lucky.

    Slightly under 1 week to get your questionnaire done + file LCA

    7-10 days for LCA from department of justice

    2-3 days after this minimum to file with USCIS

    7-15 calendar days for premium processing

    Plus whatever time it takes in the mail to get a physical copy of your approval. Not everyone waits for this last one before joining.

    You pick the higher end of these, plus add a few days delays in case of weekends, holidays etc, and you could hit 40-45 days easily.
    Nov 1, 2021 8
    • Amazon
      gurney_h

      Go to company page Amazon

      gurney_h
      If you're willing to take risks, you can legally join on USCIS case receipt, before the transfer is approved.

      I doubt anyone except folks who were laid off do that though. If your case is rejected you could be technically out of status.

      Maybe companies re-file in that case, but you'd likely be put on unpaid leave.
      Nov 1, 2021
    • Intel
      contrari@n

      Go to company page Intel

      contrari@n
      December 13th is the last date of 2021 that you can join. Anyone joining in 2022 will only be eligible for refreshers in 2023
      Nov 1, 2021
  • If I can know what level are you at Msft? L63/64?
    Nov 1, 2021 3
  • Financial Services Company / Finance
    mc-doodle

    Go to company page Financial Services Company Finance

    PRE
    Amazon
    mc-doodle
    USCIS has started to crawl like a snail again for work visas. I won’t be surprised if they soon reach Trump era timelines for approvals of normal cases on premium too. Dems don’t seem to care a lot about employment based visas and with a disastrous mid term looming it’s going to get worse.
    Nov 1, 2021 1
  • Amazon
    xynjng!

    Go to company page Amazon

    xynjng!
    Hey OP. I am in the same situation as you. Wanted to speed up the process.
    Can you please update here if you are able to speed up the process.
    Nov 4, 2021 6
    • Amazon
      xynjng!

      Go to company page Amazon

      xynjng!
      sorry you got negative reply OP. Lets hope for the best
      Nov 4, 2021
    • @xynjng by refresher I meant annual stock refresher for your given level. To be eligible for this refresher on a given year, you should have been employed at G before a cutoff date from previous year either Dec 31st or Oct. So not sure what's this date is. There are conflicting data points in blind and even recruiters are not consistent.
      Nov 4, 2021