initial cost

H1B
L1A
no cost if filing at
no cost if filing at
consulate; if filing in consulate; if filing in the
the US: filing fee
US: filing fee $325;
$325; training fee
training fee $1500;
$1500; antifraud fee
antifraud fee $500;
$500; (premium
(premium $1225 if
$1225 if requested)
requested)

processing times
at Ciber or
attorney

Premium 15 days plus

10 days for LCA plus
2-3 days petition
processing; otherwise
3-6 months for
approval

2-3 weeks or more of

gathering info plus Fed Ex
time to India; if in the US,
premium is 15 days after
petition is submitted;
otherwise 3-6 months

start dates

for new H1Bs, they

must be filed on April
1 with a start date of
Oct. 1; if someone
already has an
approved H1B, s/he
can begin at any time

N/A

length

6 years total - can be 7 years

extended 1-3 years at
a time (if there is an
approved I-140, it can
be extended beyond 6
years)

filing lengths

3-6 months for regular 3-6 months for regular

processing; 15
processing; 15 calendar
calendar days for
days for Premium
Premium

right to control

Must show that Ciber, Must show that Ciber is

not the client "control" the employer and has
or employee the
been for at least 1 year
consultant

Billable work

Can do billable work

Can do billable work

Whose payroll?

Yes, must be on US
payroll

no - can be on either
payroll

work at site

Yes, or from home

Yes, or from home

project transfer

Yes - need to file

amendment and new
LCA

visa/status

must have visa to

enter US, but I-797
overrides visa once in
the US

amendments

Yes - must file with

Yes - must file with new
new project - cost for
project - cost for 1st
1st amendment is
amendment is $1825;
$1825; second and second and beyond $325
beyond $325

Yes - need to file

amendment
must have visa to enter
US, but I-797 overrides
visa once in the US

tied to client

Yes - tied to specific

location

Yes - tied to specific

location

educational reqs

BA minimum

Managerial capacity in
Ciber India and Ciber NA

change status
Misc.

Yes, in or out of US
N/A

Yes, in or out of US
need org chart, job
descriptions from India
and US; managing
professionals (resumes);
Ciber has a blanket L
approval to help at the
Embassies/consulates

L1B
no cost if filing at
consulate; if filing in the
US: filing fee $325;
training fee $1500;
antifraud fee $500;
(premium $1225 if
requested)

TN
N/A for Ciber

2-3 weeks or more of

1-3 days at Ciber
gathering info plus Fed Ex
time to India; if in the US,
premium is 15 days after
petition is submitted;
otherwise 3-6 months

N/A

5 years

E3
no cost if filing at
consulate; if filing in the
US: filing fee $325;
training fee $1500;
antifraud fee $500;
(premium $1225 if
requested)
2-3 weeks or more of
gathering info plus Fed Ex
time to India; if in the US,
premium is 15 days after
petition is submitted;
otherwise 3-6 months

N/A

N/A

3 years and can be

extended

valid up to 2 years,
renewable with no
extension limits

3-6 months for regular N/A

processing; 15 calendar
days for Premium

3-6 months for regular

processing; 15 calendar
days for Premium

Must show that Ciber is N/A - must show proof Must show that Ciber, not
the employer and has of employment, but
the client "control" or
been for at least 1 year doesn't have the
employee the consultant
control issues of H1B
and L1
Can do billable work

Can do billable work

Can do billable work

no - can be on either
payroll

Yes, or from home

Yes - need to file
amendment

either US or Canadian Yes, must be on US payroll

payroll

Yes, or from home

Yes, or from home

No

Yes - need to file

amendment and new LCA

must have visa to enter Canadians so not

US, but I-797 overrides require visas;
visa once in the US
Mexicans do
Yes - must file with new N/A
project - cost for 1st
amendment is $1825;
second and beyond $325
Yes - tied to specific
location

No

Australians only

Yes - must file with new

project - cost for 1st
amendment is $1825;
second and beyond $325
Yes - tied to specific
location

Specialized knowledge
BA or experience 3
BA minimum
that is very difficult to get years for every 1 year
of education (ie 12
years of experience)
Yes, in or out of US
Yes, in or out of US
Yes, in or out of US
need org chart, proof of only valid for
N/A
specialized knowledge
Canadian and Mexican
(knowledge that cannot citizens
be gotten from
classroom); Ciber has a
blanket L approval to help
at the
Embassies/consulates

B1
N/A for Ciber

B1 in lieu of H1B
N/A for Ciber

EAD L2
N/A for Ciber

EAD F-1/OPT
N/A for Ciber

1-3 days at Ciber

1-3 days at Ciber

holders responsibility holders responsibility

to get and to update to get and to update

N/A

N/A

Start date will be

written on EAD card

can be extended $290 for the filing fee

- would not
recommend

can be extended valid for 1 year with

valid for 1 year; STEM
$290 for the filing fee extensions possible (1 majors can get an
- would not
year at a time)
additional 17 months
recommend

Start date will be

written on EAD card

N/A - given at
N/A - given at
3 month
Consulate or Embassy Consulate or Embassy

3 months

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

No. Meetings,
conferences,
exchange of
information

Can do billable work

Can do billable work

Can do billable work

Must remain on nonUS payroll

Must remain on nonUS payroll

Yes, must be on US
payroll

Yes, must be on US
payroll

on site for meetings

on site - temporary

Yes, or from home

Yes, or from home

N/A

Yes

Yes

Yes

must have visa - must must have visa - must must have EAD;
must have EAD;
leave on or before
leave on or before
cannot work past EAD cannot work past EAD
end date of I-94
end date of I-94
end date
end date
N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Yes

Yes

No

No

N/A

BA or experience 3
N/A
years for every 1 year
of education (ie 12
years of experience)

No. Must leave US.

No. Must leave US.
Yes, in or out of US
Cannot do work - no Must meet
Dependent on
programming, testing, requirements for H1B. spouse's status.
analysis, etc.
Can do work. Short
assignments.

BA or higher

Yes, in or out of US
Any changes to work
location must be
updated on I-20
through school.