Preferred Timelines

Though there is no explicit timeline in the recruiting and hiring process, PAIR recommends a preferred timeline.

• Considerations
  
  • The United States BCIS - Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services operates on the fiscal year October 1 - September 30. Allocations for non-immigrant H-1b workers are released commencing on October 1 up until the quota has been reached. (At present, there is a 65,000 quota for foreign workers (H-1b category) throughout the world. Once that is depleted, the next approvals, if released will not be effective until the next October 1st. For the fiscal year 2006, after the H1b applications were received on April 1, 2006, the 65,000 quota was depleted sometime towards the end of May 2006.
  • Texas State Board of Educator Ceritfication has a historical timeframe of 4 to 6 weeks upon arrival in the United States before a One-Year Certificate is released and posted in the Official Record of Certified Teachers at the SBEC website.
  • The Philippines has a thorough screening process to ensure the welfare of all overseas foreign workers deployed throughout the world. This process can take anywhere between 2 to 4 weeks.
  • The U.S. embassy in Manila typically has a 6-week timeframe from the date of the visa application thorugh the interview schedule and eventual release of the U.S. H-1b visa.
    
• Recommended timeline
  
  

  Period	Activity / activities
  Any 9-day period - August - September	International recruitment trip
  September - December	Preparation, signing and filing of the appropriate immigration papers with the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services
  January - February	Visa application process with the U.S. embassy in Manila
  March	Coordination activities with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, inclusive of physical exams
  April - May	PAIR training of incoming teachers
  June	Arrival in the United States, addressing various concerns - State Board certification, housing, social security among others
  July	Release of all needed documentation, continuation of PAIR review
  August	Reporting to the school district