H1B Visa Requirements and Application

Complete guide to obtaining an H1B visa, eligbility, requirements, and FAQs

VisaGuide / US Visa / Nonimmigrant / Work Visas / H1B Visa

The H1B visa is a temporary work visa that allows US employees to hire highly qualified workers for specialty jobs. It is also referred to as Person in Specialty Occupation Visa.

Do I Qualify for an H1B Visa?

You qualify for the H1B visa if you are accepted in a specific job position which has the following requirements:

  • Possession of an advanced educational degree such as:
    • A 4 four year Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent degrees)
    • A Master’s or Doctoral Degree
  • Advanced training or vocational skills (examples include fashion models)
  • Qualify to work in research and development projects of the US Department of Defense or other government positions.
  • Examples of job positions might be:
    • IT specialists.
    • Architects.
    • Accountants.
    • Professors.
    • Doctors.
    • Lawyers, etc.

The H1B work visa is initiated by an employer in the United States. The employer must have an open job position and they cannot find an American employee who is qualified enough to complete the work. This can be any position that requires higher education degrees or that is specialized enough in skills that not many people can do it successfully.

Then, the employer receives applications from various candidates and if the requirements for the job are fulfilled by a foreign employee, then the US H1B visa process is initiated.

A US employer is defined as a company or corporation which has an IRS (Internal Revenue Service) number.

Since the H1B visa process starts with a US employer, they have to be able to meet some requirements specified by the country. The process is also otherwise known as H1B visa sponsorship.

H1B Visa Cap

The applications open every year in spring. USCIS approves around 65,000 petitions per year starting from October 1st to September 30th of the following year.  6,800 petitions are reserved for H1B1 visas for Chile and Singapore nationals, while the rest for H1B visas. The applications of the first 20 thousand applicants with a master’s degree are exempt from this visa cap.

How to Apply for the H1B Visa?

Here are the steps you need to go through in order to apply for the H1B visa:

  1. Make sure you qualify for the H1B visa.
  2. Find a petitioner by applying for a job opening in the United States.
  3. Have the petitioning initiated by your employer.
  4. Apply for the H1B visa at the nearest US Embassy/Consulate in your home country.

Supporting Documents for H1B Visa Petitioning

The petitioner must include the fee checks and the following supporting documents:

  • I-129 Form filling fee – Employers can also apply to waive this fee from USCIS by filling in Form I-912
  • Employer Funded Training Fee ($1,500 for employers with more than 25 full-time employees in the US; $750 for employers with less than 25 full-time employees in the US)
  • Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee of $500 for each foreign employee
  • Pay the Public Law 114-113 Fee of $4,000 – this fee applies if the employer has more than 50 employees, and 50% of them are on H1B or L visas. The employer does not have to pay the fee is they are extending or amending the USCIS petition.
  • Employees who want Premium Processing from USCIS have to pay an additional $1,225 (and Form I-907)
  • If the employer is represented by an attorney, Form G-28 is also needed
  • Form I-129
  • Other documents:
    • Proof that the foreign worker meets the educational qualifications (copies of diplomas/certifications)
    • A copy of the foreign worker’s passport
    • A copy of the contract signed by the employer and employee
    • Internal Tax Returns of the company
    • A report of state wages paid to employees
    • 15 photographs of the premise of your business

H1B Visa Petitioning Process for Employers

Here are the steps that employers need to go through to petition a foreign worker:

Have a Labor Condition Application (LCA)

The US employer must get an approved Labor Conditions Application (LCA) from the US Department of Labor. This certifies that the US employer can hire foreign workers. It also states that the employer will offer them fair compensation and treatment. Finally, it proves that the employer must hire a foreign worker because a US citizen is not qualified, available, or willing to work in that job position.

In that form, they should indicate the number of years that they will hire foreign workers. This form guarantees the US and the employees that this employer will:

  • Pay the foreign employee the full prevailing wage.
  • Provide an adequate working environment and conditions.
  • Notify the employee of any changes made in the labor certification.
  • Notify the government of the location where the work will be performed.
  • Provide company information and the number of employees.
  • State employee job description and income.

The LCA is filed with the US Department of Labor (DOL). The employer must have an approved LCA before taking any other steps in hiring the employee. The employee cannot start working before all certifications and documents are obtained.


File a petition with USCIS

The second step is to give a job offer to the foreign employee and file the Form I-129. This is the petition which goes to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker is the main form and USCIS is the main authority in processing the petitions. This form is filed to obtain permission from the US government to hire a foreign worker.


I-129 forms

Employers have to file separate I-129 forms for each employee.

I-129 forms are required:

  • If the employee is being hired by two companies, each one has to file a Form I-129
  • If the employee wants to extend their work, the employer has to file a Form I-129
  • If the employee is switching jobs, the new employer has to file a new Form I-129 (H1B Transfer)

Submit the forms along with the document file

The forms must be signed in black ink and compiled in a file.

Where to submit the petition?

The petition is then submitted to USCIS in one of its four locations:

  • Nebraska Service Center (LIN for Lincoln, Nebraska);
  • Vermont Service Center (EAC for Eastern Adjudication Center);
  • Texas Service Center (SRC for Southern Regional Center);
  • California Service Center (WAC for Western Adjudication Center).

The employer must submit the petition at the closest service center in the area that they are. Once USCIS receives it, they will issue your case number. The case number will have a specific format. An example would be EAC-18-107-50321. This is the number through which you must check your petition status.

The first three letters show the service center (EAC in this case is for Vermont). The second two numbers (18) refer to the year that the petition is submitted. In this case it refers to the year of 2018. The other number (107) refers to the day when the application was submitted. This gets counted from the first day that USCIS opens the application period until the last day, not including weekends and holidays. And the final five numbers (50321) represent your case number. This case number is not in order of how your application gets received. USCIS does not give information on how they number this.


Wait for the review from USCIS

USCIS will review the petition and determine whether the job is speculative or real, and then grant or deny it. Neither the employer or employee can take any actions before this petition or H1B sponsorship process is approved. If USCIS approves the petition for foreign workers, they will issue a Form I-797. This means that the employee can start application procedures.

Supporting Documents for an H1B Visa Application

You must submit the required documents for employees as listed below:

  • Your current passport.
  • Copy of your current passport pages.
  • All previous passports.
  • Receipts that prove you have paid your visa fees.
  • A photograph which meets the Digital Image Requirements.
  • Visa interview appointment letter (Original and 1 copy).
  • Printed Form I-129 Receipt number and the original and 1 copy of Form I-129.
  • Copy of Form I-797.
  • Letter from your employer with your job description.
  • Your qualifications (diplomas and certifications).
  • If you have worked before in the US, you also have to submit:
    • Your tax return forms.
    • Names and contact information of previous employers and supervisors.
    • Resume or CV.
    • Pay slips for the past 12 months.
  • If this is the first time you are applying, you should submit these additional documents:
    • Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV).
    • Names and contact information of supervisors and managers of your current and previous jobs.
    • Names and contact information of two co-workers of your current and previous jobs.
    • A letter describing your job duties and responsibilities of the job you will have in the US.
    • Photographs of your current and previous job locations.
    • Photographs of the building where you will be working in the US (outside and inside), annual report, prospectus, any brochures.
    • Bank statements.

Steps to Apply for an H1B Visa

The H1B application is filled by the applicant. In addition to the employers, applicants also have to complete these steps:

  1. Fill in Form DS-160.
  2. Schedule an interview.
  3. Pay the application fees of $205.
  4. Submit required documents.
  5. Attend the H1B interview.

How Are the H1B Visas Processed?

The way that H1B visas get processed is quite random. The selection is called the H1B visa lottery. That shows that there is no order or preference in who gets selected. USCIS starts with the 20,000 petitions for those with graduate degrees from US institutions.

If there are more than 20,000 petitions, they conduct a random selection to fill this number. The remaining petitions that are not selected in this 20,000 are then entered in the regular cap of the 65,000 petitions.

For the regular petitions, only 65,000 get selected. If there are more than 65,000 petitions, USCIS conducts a random selection again to fill this final number.

If you have been selected, the USCIS will notify your employer by the end of March. Then, starting from April 1, you can schedule an interview appointment with the US Embassy/Consulate in your country and get the visa stamp on your passport.

How to See My H1B Status Updates?

When your employer submits the petition, you will receive a 13-digit receipt number which you can use to check on your H1B status on the USCIS website. The receipt number starts with an “ EAC, WAC, LIN, SRC, NBC, MSC or IOE” and is followed by 10 numbers.  Your status could state one of the following:

  • Submitted – Your employer has submitted the petition and it is eligible to be selected.
  • Selected – You have been selected and can file an H1B cap petition.
  • Not Selected – You have not been selected and cannot file an H1B cap petition.
  • Denied – Your employer has submitted more than one petition on your behalf and thus, your entire petition has been rejected.
  • Invalidated-Failed Payment – Your employer has submitted a petition, but the payment has somehow failed or not gone through.

Total Costs of an H1b Visa

Besides the $205 for the H1B application at the embassy additional fees you have to pay are:

  • Visa issuance fee. Which is different for various embassies, so you should check with your local US Embassy about the amount
  • Additional fees.  For employers with more than 50 employees, where 50% of them are on H1B or L visas, there is an additional fee of $2,250 which the employee/applicant has to pay

To determine the total cost, you can use our H1B visa fees calculator:

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How Long Do I Have to Wait for Processing?

There are three types of processing for the H1B visa:

  • Regular processing.
  • Premium processing.
  • Expedited processing.

The regular H1B visa processing time is from 1 month to 6 months, while premium guarantees that the petition will be processed within 15 days. Premium processing costs an additional $1,225.

On the other hand, expedited processing is only done on a case by case basis from USCIS.

Example:

The California and Nebraska Service Centers process H1B visas for an average of 2.5 to 4.5 months.

On the other hand, the Vermont Service Center has a much higher processing time for H1B visas. It takes around 12 to 15 months for them to process a petition. So if you submit the petition during the 2023 application time, you might be able to start working in October of 2024.

Expedited processing criteria

There are a few criteria that the petition must meet to get expedited USCIS processing:

  • There is severe financial loss to the US employer or foreign employee;
  • There is an emergency situation;
  • There are humanitarian reasons;
  • The petition is from a US Nonprofit Organization for the cultural and social interests of the US;
  • The petition is from a US government entity due to national interest from the US Department of Defense;
  • There was a USCIS error;
  • The petition is of compelling interest of USCIS.

How Long Can I Stay in the US with an H1B Visa?

The H1B visa is initially valid for 3 years but can extend for another 3 years. In total, a person can stay and work in the US for 6 years at most. However, that does not mean that the person must return to their home country. What makes the H1B visa popular is that it is a dual intent visa.

Dual intent visas allow its holders to apply for a change of status to an immigrant visa. So, if you qualify and have a valid job offer after the 6 years, you may apply for an Employment Based Green Card.

How to Extend the H1B Visa?

The H1B extension procedures are similar to the initial application process. You will need to pay the same fees, except for the Fraud Prevention and Protection Fee. Your employer will also have to follow the same procedures for getting certification from DOL and an approved petition from USCIS. In addition, you will submit these documents:

  • Your passport.
  • Original I-94 Form (which you will get when your visa is approved).
  • Valid I-797 Form.
  • Letter from your employer describing your work in detail and signed by the company representatives.

The H1B extension processing will take anywhere between 4 to 7 months by normal processing and 15 days by premium processing.

H1B Amendment

The H1B Amendment requires US employers to file an amended petition in case the employee has any material changes. Material changes are defined as anything that impacts the employee’s eligibility for an H1B visa. The USCIS does not give a list of what qualifies as such a change, but examples include:

  • Change in the corporate structure.
  • Promotion to a different department of the employee.
  • If the employee is required to move to a different location than what is registered with USCIS.

The amendment can be filed after the change has occurred. There is no universal guideline on the H1B amendment, so employers will have to contact USCIS to determine whether the change qualified and requires an amended petition.

Can I Bring My Spouse With Me?

Many H1B visa holders want their spouse and children to accompany them. Spouses qualify to accompany H1B visa holders if they get the H4 visa. Since 2015, H-4 visa holders could qualify to work under the H4 EAD program in certain conditions. In addition, those with H-4 visas are also allowed to enroll in studies.

Others who qualify to accompany an H1B visa holder are the children of under 21 years old, with an H-4 visa.

What is H1B Visa Stamping?

H1B visa stamping is the last step to going to the US under a H1B visa. When you get to the US, you will need to undergo security clearance from US Immigration.

H-1C Visas – Foreign Registered Nurses

The H-1C visas have been designed for one particular field of expertise, which is nursing. Since nurses are highly demanded in the US and the country might not have enough qualified workers to fill this shortage, the US gives H-1C visas to foreign registered nurses and allows them to work in places where there aren’t enough nurses. The place where the nurses will work is determined by the US Department of Labor, which analyzes where nurses are demanded and there is a shortage.

Latest H1B Visa News and Updates

For more news and updates on the H1B Visa visit H1B Visa News.

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