H1B Alternative FAQ: Everything You Need to Know

Companies typically save $100,000+ per hire by choosing Aikinu's US & Canadian developers over H1B applications. Here's the breakdown:

• Legal fees: $15K-25K per application
• Filing costs: $5K-10K per petition
• Compliance costs: $10K-20K annually
• Opportunity cost: 8-18 months of delays
• Lottery risk: 74% chance of rejection

With Aikinu, you pay only our placement fee and get immediate starts with zero immigration risk.

Aikinu provides qualified developers in 5 days on average, while H1B process takes 8-18 months:

H1B lottery success rate is only 26% (2024 data), meaning 74% of applications are rejected regardless of candidate quality or your company's needs.

Aikinu offers 100% placement guarantee - if we present a candidate, they're immediately available to start. No lottery risk, no yearly uncertainty, no policy changes affecting your hiring plans.

Yes, often higher. Our US & Canadian developer network includes:

• Graduates from top universities (Stanford, MIT, Waterloo, UBC)
• Senior engineers from FAANG companies (Google, Meta, Amazon)
• Proven professionals with 5-15+ years experience
• Startup founders and tech leads

Plus, they offer better cultural fit, time zone alignment, and communication skills for North American companies.

Here are your complete H1B alternatives ranked by reliability:

1. US & Canadian citizens (Aikinu specialty) - Immediate start, zero risk
2. Permanent residents - Work authorized, no sponsorship needed
3. TN visa holders - Mexico/Canada nationals, renewable annually
4. O-1 visa holders - Extraordinary ability, faster processing
5. L-1 visa transfers - Internal company transfers
6. E-3 visa - Australian nationals only

Aikinu specializes in the first two categories for maximum reliability and immediate availability.

H1B legal risks include:

• Policy changes affecting approval rates
• Compliance violations ($10K+ fines)
• Wage requirement disputes
• Site visit complications
• Transfer restrictions

Aikinu approach has zero immigration risk - US & Canadian citizens can start immediately with no legal complications, policy changes, or compliance requirements.

Our rigorous 5-step process ensures only top 5% of applicants join our network:

1. Technical skills assessment - Live coding, system design
2. Portfolio review - Real project evaluation
3. Behavioral interviews - Communication and culture fit
4. Reference checks - Previous employer verification
5. Background screening - Professional and legal verification

Result: 95% retention rate and exceptional client satisfaction.

We specialize in all levels of tech positions including:

Staff augmentation allows you to quickly add skilled professionals to your existing team:

• Flexible duration: Weeks to years based on your needs
• Seamless integration: Developers work as part of your team
• Scale up/down: Adjust team size as projects evolve
• No long-term commitment: Convert to permanent or end as needed
• Immediate start: Begin within 48-72 hours

We back our service with industry-leading guarantees:

• 30-day replacement guarantee for permanent placements
• 5-day placement promise or extended search at no cost
• Quality assurance: Pre-vetted candidates only
• Client satisfaction: 95% retention rate track record
• Immediate replacement for staff augmentation if needed

Our competitive pricing depends on role level and engagement type:

Contact us for a custom quote based on your specific needs.

We focus exclusively on US & Canadian markets for strategic advantages:

• Time zone alignment: EST, CST, MST, PST coverage
• Cultural fit: North American business practices
• Communication: Native English speakers
• Legal simplicity: No visa complications
• Travel flexibility: Easy client visits and team meetings

Absolutely. We excel at large-scale hiring initiatives:

• Bulk hiring: Successfully scaled teams from 5 to 50+ developers
• Dedicated teams: Account managers for high-volume clients
• Parallel processing: Multiple candidates for multiple roles simultaneously
• Rapid scaling: Weeks, not months for team growth
• Consistent quality: Same vetting standards regardless of volume

Our unique combination sets us apart:

• Speed: 5-day average vs industry 8-12 weeks
• Quality: 95% client retention vs industry 60-70%
• Specialization: Exclusively North American tech talent
• H1B alternative focus: Eliminate visa complications entirely
• Partnership approach: Long-term relationships vs transactional
• Proven track record: 500+ successful placements

Yes! We work with companies of all sizes and understand unique startup needs:

• Equity compensation: Help structure competitive packages
• Cultural fit: Find candidates who thrive in startup environments
• Growth potential: Developers excited about scaling companies
• Flexible arrangements: Part-time, contract-to-hire options
• Startup-friendly pricing: Flexible payment terms available

Specialized skills are our specialty. Our network includes experts in:

• AI/ML: TensorFlow, PyTorch, computer vision, NLP
• Blockchain: Solidity, Web3, DeFi, smart contracts
• Cloud: AWS, GCP, Azure specialists and architects
• Mobile: iOS, Android, React Native, Flutter
• Enterprise: Salesforce, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft platforms
• Emerging tech: IoT, AR/VR, quantum computing

We maintain specialized talent pools and can quickly source niche expertise.

The best way to find tech talent without H-1B visas is to focus on US citizens, green card holders, and Canadian professionals. Aikinu specializes in this exact strategy - we connect you with experienced developers who can start immediately without any visa complications or $100K fees.

The fastest way to hire developers in 2025 is to skip H-1B applications entirely. Our approach gets you qualified candidates in 5 days average, compared to 8-18 months for H-1B processing. Focus on visa-free talent for immediate results.

You should avoid H-1B visa applications because they now cost $100K per petition, have only a 26% success rate in the lottery, and take 8-18 months to process. Meanwhile, US and Canadian developers can start immediately with zero immigration risk.

Yes, Canadian developers can work in the US through various mechanisms including TN visas (quick processing), remote work arrangements, or contract structures. Aikinu helps facilitate these arrangements for seamless cross-border hiring.

Our fees are 15-25% of first year salary for permanent placements (industry standard is 20-35%), and $75-200/hour for contract work. This is significantly less than H-1B costs when you factor in legal fees, delays, and lottery risk.