I am a Masters graduate and currently looking for jobs. I interviewed with a University in Iowa and it looks like I might get offered the job. The problem is that it is a position that will end December 31, 2009. My OPT ends beginning of January 2009. They are willing to sponsor H1B for me. But the position will end on that given date, and I will have to get into another job.
So the problem is H1B transfer from a non-profit to a profit. From what I know, H1B transfers from non-profit to profit need to be counted against the cap and is not as simple as transfers from profit to profit. So what is the solution? How can I make a transfer after my position ends there?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.  

Best solution is: work with University H1B until the position is terminated. When H1B petition date starts in 2009, try to file a quota based H1B from a profit organization. Non-profit H1B can't be transferred to profit org at all. So, you can file a NEW H1B from profit organization while you're working at the university and join that profit organization later when your university term finishes.

Remember: a person can hold multiple H1B at the same time, but he/she can work in one place at a time.

I was in the similar situation, this is what I did.

Thanks batuwa. That seems like the best solution. But just wondering, did you get hired directly to a profit organization or did you go through consulting companies?
So a company has to apply for an H1B for me 8 months in advance (given I can only start to work for them Jan 2010); it seems like an awful lot of time. Would that be an issue?
Thanks again.

Unfortunately, you have to go through consulting company; otherwise, no companies will wait you for 5-10 months... no one will file your H1B before you get hired. What type of position you're going to hold at the university? If you don't see your long term future at that university, why waste time and put your career/status in jeopardy? Why not start working for profit corp from now?

Yeah if I had job offers from a for-profit company already, I wouldn't have bothered with it.
So if I go through the consulting people, do they hold you to a one year contract again?