The demand for H-1B visas rises each year. Yet, the odds of a foreign national being selected by the annual H-1B visa lottery is less than 25%.
The Build Fellowship offers a cap-exempt H-1B visa solution, with a 99% acceptance rate, allowing foreign national talent to pursue careers in the fastest-growing industries across the U.S.
The Build Fellowship is run through our nonprofit partners to offer an immigration pathway for foreign nationals while amplifying the nonprofits’ missions and impact.
The Build Fellowship Overview & First Steps
Key Points
The Build Fellowship team evaluates and petitions foreign national employment to nonprofit and university partners.
Nonprofit partners employ Build Fellows part-time, for approximately 5 hours per week.
Fellows with part-time, cap–exempt H-1B status through The Build Fellowship can have a full-time employer file a concurrent capexempt H-1B visa.
The Build Fellowship is responsible for the administrative and compliance components of the program, making it easy for nonprofit partners to launch Build Fellowships without additional capacity.
The Build Fellowship can launch programs that fit the unique needs of your organization. From a 2-person program to a 1,000 person program, we are able to tailor our efforts to your goals.
Step 1: Application
The Build Fellowship welcomes applications from foreign national innovators, experts, and entrepreneurs seeking immigration solutions for U.S. employment.
Step 2: Placement
Top candidates are places in part- time positions at out partner nonprofits and universities.
Step 3: Employment
By working part-time for partner organizations, Build Fellows secure their cap-exempt H-1B visa, allowing them to be employed full time at U.S. companies.
The Build Fellowship & Nonprofit Relationship
Roles & Responsibilities
Every organization that The Build Fellowship partners with will have its own mission and programmatic goals.
The Build Fellowship manages operations, immigration legal processes, and compliance needs, allowing you to stay focused on achieving your mission.
The role of partner organizations is to run their program effectively by leveraging the expertise of part-time foreign national employees.
Companies are responsible for paying program fees. The Build Fellowship covers the partner’s cost of employing the foreign national and provides a stipend to support the operational cost of running the partnership program.
Build’s Partnership Program provides your organization with the infrastructure, technology, and compliance to run a best-in-class program.
- Fellowship application management software
- Program administration and compliance
- Foreign national evaluation and placement
- Coordination with immigration attorneys
- Coordination with concurrent employer
- Liaising for University partnerships
- Education program support and tools
- HR, recruitment, and hiring support
- Microsite development and management
- Marketing and communications toolkit
The two types of Build Fellowships that nonprofit partners can provide.
Standard Build Fellowship Program
The standard, turnkey education program offered to partners, administered by The Build Fellowship team, with minimal inputs required of the partner organization.
Fellows offer students at partner institutions access to world-class subject matter training through accessible educational materials and 1:1 sessions.
Custom Build Fellowship Programs
Custom programs are administered by nonprofit partners themselves and must be approved of and meet minimum compliance requirements defined by Build.
These programs may take many forms, such as the micro-internship program offered by Open Avenues Foundation.
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.
Qualifications & Commitment
Candidate Qualifications
A Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in a specialized field. Ability to dedicate 5+ hours per week to educational programming initiatives and workforce development. A benefactor willing to support the costs of the Fellowship – Fellows cannot fund their own Fellowship.
Fellowship Commitment
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, Fellowships can begin at any time. Fellows are sponsored for cap-exempt H-1Bs for up to 3 years, with a 6 month minimum commitment. A 3 year extension is possible.
