H1b Status?

It depends on what type of processing whoever filed for you decided to go with.

Premium processing (1 gees more) - In 2 - 3 weeks
Regular processing 2 - 3 months

Disclaimer: This information is from the law firm handling my H1B processing. You should go to the USCIS website or call your law firm to verify this info.

Yep, my law firm did premium and told me a couple days ago that I need to wait another 3 weeks or so..

so what happens if you guys don't get the H1? do you apply next year?

Work under OPT until July of 2009, hopefully get H1-b the second time around, move to Europe/Asia office of my company for 2-3 months until October 2009 and come back to NYC in October.

Europe or Asia ....hopefully they don't use this as an excuse to rescind my offer.

I've never heard that a company would use that as an excuse to rescind an offer. The worst that can happen to you is that you'd work under OPT for a year and then you'd get fired. It's not great but at least you'd have some experience under your belt and that can help you a lot when looking for a new job. So as long as you have OPT, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

The unfortunate thing is, unlike you, I graduated in Dec 07 and my OPT kicked in right away. No group will want to have me on their team for just 6 months considering my OPT is valid for 1 yr.
We'll see how it plays out.

They increased the OPT to 29months yesterday, but that's only for people who have engineering, math or science degrees and are working for a firm that pertains to a field of their study.

opt period has now been extended for some ppl with certain skills/degrees

http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=25123

Is this new OPT rule effective immediately? So people who graduated in May 2007 with proper degrees are eligible?

do you think math majors working for banks will be eligible for the extension?

nope. It says it's only for people who work in their field of study. Trading, I can understand in some fashion could be math but otherwise banking I don't think so. You can always consult an immigration lawyer on these issues, I'm just voicing what my adviser told me.

If you have a quantitative background eg engineering, math, sciences, etc you'll be fine. Your comapany's law firm can definitely come up with a very good arguement as to how your major relates to Banking, S&T, Research etc. Afterall, that's why they gaid paid a shit lotta dough!

Good example - the H1b was specifically for people with highly specialized skills but yet I know a guy with a liberal art major in banking who got his H1B visas.

So do you think there's any chance of getting the H1b for a business major working in i-banking?

You can get the visa regardless of your major but the OPT extension is hard to get with a business major.

Actually, you wouldn't be able to get the OPT extension for 17 months with a business major.
check this website for the majors that qualify for the extension:
http://www.nafsa.org/regulatory_information.sec/29_month_opt_rule_update...

You can definitely get your H1B visa with your major but then you'll have to pray hard that you are among the 65000 selected through the lottery process.

Bank of America just rescinded an offer from a friend. That is why you don't take offers from a second rate bank.

Dude thats fuckin crazy.. Seems like I didn't get the H1B visa, hopefully my bank will handle this much better...

Your bank will probably relocate you to a different country after your first year if you don't get the visa for the second time. Would you mind working in either London, Hong Kong or Dubai?

Well, I graduated in December and only have abt 6 months OPT left. I probably will be relocated as soon as the training program ends. London will be the next viable option for me but I'm pretty sure most H1B rejects will be gunning for London as well.

oh wow, BofA sucks... I'm glad they cancelled my interview because of H1B...

yeah, BofA cancelled my superday because I was international. They were really pissed, apparently i was supposed to have told them of my status before I took the first round interview. Oh well, to hell with them, I have a better job now.

I even told them i was international but they still scheduled me for an interview. The night before at 9pm, they called me and said they had to cancel because i was international. how pathetic is that??