An Innovative Cap-Exempt H-1B Solution
U.S. immigration law firms face complex challenges to provide comprehensive solutions for their clients, particularly those who might not easily fit into standard categories for visas or employment-based sponsorship.
The Build Fellowship can serve as a valuable partner, offering a cap-exempt H-1B visa solution with a 99% acceptance rate for highly skilled individuals to work and contribute in the United States.
The Build Fellowship by Open Avenues is a nationwide, cap-exempt H-1B visa program offered to foreign national experts and innovators seeking to grow companies and careers in the U.S.
Key Benefits for Law Firms & Attorneys
Offer clients a part-time cap-exempt H-1B Fellowship position if they are not selected in the lottery or are outside the U.S. and need a visa pathway.
File concurrent cap-exempt H-1B petitions for your clients once hired as a Fellow and approved for the part-time cap-exempt H-1B.
Refer clients for Fellowships year round.
Offer exclusive access to your clients through a custom webpage for your firm.
Join the network of attorneys we refer candidates to for concurrent cap-exempt H-1B petitions.
Step 1: Nominate Your Client
Nominate your clients who qualify for the H-1B and are seeking to live and work in the U.S. The Build Fellowship will assess applications and evaluate your client’s eligibility to ensure compliance.
Step 2: Processing
The Build Fellowship works with stakeholders to place top candidates in part-time Fellowship positions and sponsor them for cap-exempt H-1B visas.
Step 3: Approval
Build Fellows work part-time at nonprofit partner organizations, allowing them to work for U.S. companies fulltime on a cap-exempt H-1B visas.
Build Fellows are employed part-time by The Build Fellowship non-profit partners and are able to work full-time for U.S. companies who provide concurrent sponsorship.
Candidate Qualifications
A Bachelor's degree or demonstrated expertise in a specialized field.
Exhibit a commitment to dedicate 5+ hours weekly to support education initiatives and workforce development.
Candidates must have a benefactor willing to support the Fellowship costs – Fellows cannot fund their own Fellowship.
Sponsoring a Fellow
Candidates are nominated by full-time employers or a fiscal sponsor.
Sponsors partner with The Build Fellowship to offer the opportunity to the foreign national.
Fellow Responsibilities
Work 5+ hours per week remotely with Build’s education and research partners on 1:1 lecture and mentorship sessions and experiential learning projects in the Fellow’s specialized field.
Hours are flexible based on Fellow schedule.
Program Length
Fellows are accepted on a rolling basis and can start the program at any time of the year.
Fellowships last a minimum of six months and up to three years – an additional three year extension is possible.
The Build Fellowship Pricing Model.
Option 1: Build & Company Employ the Fellow
Company pays Build $4000 per month
Fellow is employed by Build & the Company, both entities manage
the immigration needs
- Build employs the foreign national in the Fellowship
for 5 hours per week and sponsors them for a part-time, cap-exempt H-1B visa. - Company employs the foreign national and sponsors
them for a full-time, concurrent H-1B visa.
Option 2: Build Employs the Fellow
Company pays Build $75+ per hour
Build manages all employment and immigration needs for the Company
- Build employs the foreign national in the Fellowship,
for 5 hours per week, and sponsors them for a part time, cap-exempt H-1B. - Build also employs the foreign national, as a full time
contract employee with the Company, and sponsors their concurrent H-1B visa.
Considerations
As a result of the Fellow’s participation, and as long as the company is paying the Fellow a fair wage, the company can negotiate with the Fellow for a lower base compensation.
For the concurrent employment options, we recommend reducing the Fellow’s compensation by at least $1k per month because that is the typical minimum in additional compensation that the Fellow receives.
Timeline
Evaluation & Contracting
2–3 week
- Nomination & Consultation
- Screening & H-1B Evaluation
- Contract Signed
Visa Processing
6-8 Week
- Petition Development
- Visa Approved (if no RFE)
Employment Starts
1 Week
- Fellowship Begins
- Full-Time Employer Files Petition
