A common question that many international students majoring accounting in the U.S. often ask is whether they are eligible for an H-1B visa even when working at a relatively small accounting firm or non-accounting company, as compared to the big-4 accounting firms, and without a CPA certificate. The answer is that it is more possible than you would think.
According to the latest statistics from the Department of Labor, the number of accountants and/or auditors from 2020 is expected to increase by 7% by 2030. As there is a clear demand for the profession, there is a good chance that accounting majors will be able to find not only a job but also an H-1B sponsorship in the U.S. This is further displayed by the fact that the big-4 accounting firms Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, and PWC account for the majority of H-1B hires with accounting majors. Apart from the demand by the big-4, there is sufficient demand for accounting majors from small accounting firms or non-accounting companies.
To be approved for an H-1B, one must show that the said position is a Specialty Occupation which requires the hire to hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. The advantage of pursuing an H-1B petition with sponsorship from a large accounting firm is that the relationship between the person’s major and the said accounting position is easily shown, a requirement set forth by the USCIS, which in turn making the H-1B approval more likely.
However, not all persons with accounting majors will have job opportunities in large accounting firms. If you are hired to work in the accounting department of a non-accounting company and apply for an H-1B visa, the USCIS tends to look carefully into the size of the company and the level of expertise that the said position entails. For example, for a person applying for an H-1B as an in-house accountant of a small company with 10 or fewer employees, the USCIS will issue a Request For Evidence (RFE) to assess whether the person is working as a bookkeeper rather than an accountant. In such situations, it is important to clearly show that the person will handle complex accounting duties that require the employee to hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Let’s take a look at H-1B cases that have been processed by SONG Law Firm, to further help you understand the intricate ins-and-outs. One of our clients was a person that worked for a small company that had a total of three employees. Although the company size measured in number of employees was small, it was engaged in international trade between Korea and China. Our immigration attorneys at SONG Law Firm emphasized that the company was continuously growing in trade volume and sales, and also that the job description of the said accounting position inherently required substantial knowledge in import & export regulations and international accounting standards. In the end, we were able to obtain H-1B approval for the said in-house accounting position.
Another example is a client with an accounting major that was looking to work as a junior accountant for a small accounting firm with only one or two employees. Although the firm was small measured in employee number, we demonstrated that they had aggressive plans to expand their business in the near future by strengthening ties with their existing client base, and successfully received approval from the USCIS.
These examples show that an accounting position does not necessarily have to be for a large firm to qualify for an H-1B. In other words, the key factor is showing the direct relation between a person’s major and the job description of the prospective employment the person will be performing at the employing company.
To all of the international students dreaming the American dream as future accounting experts, SONG Law Firm wishes you the best of luck in your 2022 H-1B application. A great idea would be preparing your petition by teaming up with the experienced immigration attorneys at SONG Law Firm, who have extensive collective experience in petitioning for a variety of majors. If you have any further questions, please contact us at mail@songlawfirm.com.