which contracting agency can sponsor a H1B visa to work in the US?

[mrketter]

Hello,

I am very new on this forum and to contracting. I hope someone can help me.

I am a french citizen who used to work for a consulting company in London for many years. I took a year off to travel, and I am planning to come back to UK in January and start contracting.

I have just been offered a contract to work on a 1 year project in the USA with company X (thanks to the people I have met when I was working for a consultancy). But for that, I need a H1B visa. Unfortunately company X cannot sponsor my visa as I am not a permanent employee of their organisation. I did some research online and I found that an alternative would be to:
-find a contracting agency that has offices in Europe and in the US
-I do a contract with the contracting agency
-the contracting agency does a contract with company X (my client)
-the contracting agency sponsors my H1B visa

Has anyone had a similar experience? Is it a good option or are there any options? If yes, would you be able to recommend some contracting agencies that could help me? What are usually their fares or commissions? I think that usually they take quite a high commission (20% of all your earnings) when they help you find a job, but in this case, I am the one who found the job for them, but I need their help for my visa...

Also, I was planning to come back to UK and get a flat here. But now, if I get the contract in the US, I won't get a flat in the UK anymore (I'll just get one in the US, on my project location where I'll be spending most of my time for a year). Would a contracting agency accept to sign with me if I have no address in the UK, or can I just use a friend's address? Does that have an impact on UK income tax?

Would appreciate any help on this.
Calder

One consideration would be the kind of work you perform. When it comes to programmers there is a lot of flexibility. Being that they can actually work remotely. There is a way to work out your issue depending on the type of work you are performing.

[Laurahammershoey]

hello Calder,
Im an now in precisely the same situation as you, I am a Danish citizen with a US contracting offer.
I am very interested in learning which of the mentioned options you ended up with?

-find a contracting agency that has offices in Europe and in the US
-I do a contract with the contracting agency
-the contracting agency does a contract with company X (my client)
-the contracting agency sponsors my H1B visa

I very much to hear from you and would be grateful for any advice.
Thanks!
Laura

[calder]

Hello,

I am very new on this forum and to contracting. I hope someone can help me.

I am a french citizen who used to work for a consulting company in London for many years. I took a year off to travel, and I am planning to come back to UK in January and start contracting.

I have just been offered a contract to work on a 1 year project in the USA with company X (thanks to the people I have met when I was working for a consultancy). But for that, I need a H1B visa. Unfortunately company X cannot sponsor my visa as I am not a permanent employee of their organisation. I did some research online and I found that an alternative would be to:
-find a contracting agency that has offices in Europe and in the US
-I do a contract with the contracting agency
-the contracting agency does a contract with company X (my client)
-the contracting agency sponsors my H1B visa

Has anyone had a similar experience? Is it a good option or are there any options? If yes, would you be able to recommend some contracting agencies that could help me? What are usually their fares or commissions? I think that usually they take quite a high commission (20% of all your earnings) when they help you find a job, but in this case, I am the one who found the job for them, but I need their help for my visa...

Also, I was planning to come back to UK and get a flat here. But now, if I get the contract in the US, I won't get a flat in the UK anymore (I'll just get one in the US, on my project location where I'll be spending most of my time for a year). Would a contracting agency accept to sign with me if I have no address in the UK, or can I just use a friend's address? Does that have an impact on UK income tax?

Would appreciate any help on this.
Calder