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David’s journey to becoming a wellsite geologist in the United States was far from ordinary. Originally from Nigeria, he built a career mastering the science of geology and its applications to the oil and gas industry. His expertise caught the attention of a global employer specializing in geological analysis to support drilling programs. With operations in the United States, Canada, Colombia and the United Arab Emirates, they sought to bring David over and have him work with their on site team in the U.S.
After entering David into the 2024 H-1B lottery, he was selected, marking the first step in the H-1B CAP process. Next, we began preparing his H-1B petition. David’s new role was critical in the company as he would be in charge of:
However, much of the work was based in rural areas and no fixed addresses. This brought about unique logistical challenges, as we needed to explain this to USCIS. David would be working under the guidance of the onsite Operations Manager, in a hybrid fashion.
Although David had impressive qualifications, securing an H-1B visa isn’t just about meeting the basic requirements. To qualify under a “specialty occupation” he needed to demonstrate he had specialized knowledge and a relevant degree. This degree can either be equivalent to the minimum requirement for entry into the particular position or the position is so complex that it can only be carried out by an individual who holds the degree. Given the nature of the job sites, we needed to ensure that the application clearly articulated the unique aspects of the position and the employer’s responsibilities.
In this case, the position required at least a bachelor’s degree in geology, environmental sciences, or a closely related field. It was absolutely critical that someone had the formal education in this background to perform the job. This was not a problem for David, as he had a Master’s degree in environmental science and held a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.
With the November 7th H-1B CAP petition deadline readily approaching, we knew time was of the essence. Our team immediately got to work, ensuring that a strong petition was sent out. First, we outlined David’s academic credentials and professional experience, demonstrating how his specialized knowledge was essential to the role. Then, we carefully highlighted his specialized knowledge, explaining why the expertise was critical for the role. We clarified that the employer would take full responsibility for all aspects of David’s employment, ensuring compliance with H-1B regulations.
Within just 21 days, David’s H-1B petition was approved. Not only did this approval validate David’s qualifications as a specialty occupation in the U.S., but it showed our firm’s ability to navigate this case with laser cut precision under an extremely tight deadline.
Feel free to reach out to our office if you plan on entering the H-1B lottery within the next couple of months, and have questions. We are here to answer your H-1B related questions. Reach out by filling out this contact form.
