H1B VISA PROGRAM - Information and Learning Center

The H1B Visa Program is the official and primary USA work visa / permit available to people from all over the world.

The US Government introduced the H1B visa to offer and enable highly skilled International Professionals and/or International Students, from all over the World, the opportunity to live and work in the USA.

The H1B is the most popular and sought after US work visa and US Immigration requires 'every' foreign national to obtain a visa in order to legally work in America.

One of the main advantages of the H1B visa is that it is a 'dual intent' visa which means that you can apply for a Green Card (Legal Permanent Residency).



The Process to obtain an H1B Visa is:
Step 1 - find an H1B Sponsorship Job with a US Sponsoring Company (employer)
Step 2 - the H1B Sponsor Company (employer) files the H1B Visa Application with the US Immigration Bureau
* individuals can NOT sponsor or apply for their own H1B visa. Only US Employers can.

There are many reasons why US employers want to hire foreign national workers on H1B visas including: to help maintain their Global competitive advantage, to bring cultural diversity into the workplace, and the innovative and strong work ethics and practices that International workers possess. H1B workers also contribute highly to the US economy in numerous ways, help fill current labor shortages in many highly skilled professions and have been instrumental in contributing to the success of many of Americas largest and most prestigious companies.

To Qualify for the H1B Visa Program, you must work in a 'specialty occupation':
The core Specialty Occupations include: IT, Computing, Finance, Accounting, Banking, Marketing, Advertising, PR, Sales, Recruiting, Engineering (all types), Teaching, HealthCare/Medical, Legal, Lawyers, Networking, Telecoms, Business, Management and Hospitality. 

An H1B visa is typically valid for up to six (6) years and entitles your spouse (husband/wife) and children (under 21) to accompany you and live in the USA on an H4 visa. The H4 dependent visa does not allow your spouse/children to work (unless they get their own H1B visa). 



FIND H1B VISA JOBS & SPONSORSHIP TO LIVE & WORK IN THE USA ~ Start Here »


» H1B VISA PROGRAM - INFORMATION & OVERVIEW

» FIND OUT WHO QUALIFIES FOR AN H1B VISA

» LIST OF H1B OCCUPATIONS / PROFESSIONS

» H1B VISA APPLICATION PROCESS

» H1B VISA PREMIUM PROCESSING - APPLICATION & FILING

» HOW TO EXTEND / REVALIDATE AN H1B VISA

» H1B VISA TRANSFER - TRANSFER TO A NEW H1B EMPLOYER

» HOLDING MULTIPLE H1B VISAS for DIFFERENT H1B EMPLOYERS

» HOW TO CHECK THE STATUS OF YOUR H1B VISA APPLICATION / FILING 


* CAP-EXEMPT H1B VISAS EXPLAINED 

INFORMATION FOR H1B EMPLOYERS AND SPONSOR COMPANIES

 

H1B VISA FILING FEES / COSTS

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JOBS, SPONSORHIP & EMPLOYMENT SERVICE CENTER:

To obtain an H1B visa, an applicant must, first, find a job with an H1B employer company in the USA (your 'sponsor' company).  Your H1B sponsor company (employer) then completes the application paperwork and files for your visa with the US Government Immigration Bureau. 
* individuals can not file their own H1B application - only your H1B employer (sponsor) can file. 

QUICKLY & EASILY FIND AND APPLY FOR H1B JOBS & SPONSORSHIP ~  Start  Here >>
1000's of jobs and thousands of companies who sponsor H1B visas



H1B Visa Frequently Asked Questions & Answers :

How long can a foreign national be in H1B status?
Under current law, you can be in H1B status for a maximum period of six (6) years at a time. After that time you must remain outside the USA for one year before another H1B petition can be approved. Certain people working on Defense Department projects may remain in H1B status for up to ten (10) years. In addition, certain aliens may obtain an extension of H1B status beyond the 6 year maximum period, when:

1) 365 days or more have passed since the filing of any application for labor certification, Form ETA 750, that is required or used by the alien to obtain status as an EB immigrant, or

2) 365 days or more have passed since the filing of an EB immigrant petition.


Who can an H1B alien (foreign national) work for?
H1B aliens can only work for the petitioning US employer (sponsor company) and only in the H1B activities (job duties) described in the visa petition. The sponsoring US employer may place the H1B worker on the worksite of another employer if all applicable rules (e.g., Department of Labor rules) are followed. H1B aliens may work for more than one US employer, but must have a Form I-129 petition approved by each employer.

What if the foreign nationals circumstances change?
As long as the foreign national continues to provide HB services for a US employer, most changes will not mean that an foreign national is out of status. A foreign national may change H1B employers without affecting status, but the new H1B employer must file a new Form I-129 petition for the foreign national before he or she begins working for the new employer. The merger or sale of an H1B employer’s business will not affect the foreign nationals status in many instances. However, if the change means that the foreign national is working in a capacity other than the specialty occupation for which they petitioned, it is a status violation.

Must an H1B employee be working at all times?
As long as the employer/employee relationship exists, an H1B employee is still in status. An H1B employee may work in full or part-time employment and remain in status. An H1B employee may also be on vacation, sick/maternity/paternity leave, on strike, or otherwise inactive without affecting his or her status.

Can an H1B visa holder travel outside the USA ?
Yes. An H1B visa allows the holder to reenter the USA during the validity period of the visa and approved petition.

Can an H1B visa holder intend to immigrate permanently to the USA ?
Yes. An H1B visa holder can be the beneficiary of an immigrant visa petition, apply for adjustment of status, or take other steps toward Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card) status without affecting their H1B status. This is known as "dual intent" and has been recognized in the immigration law since passage of the Immigration Act of 1990. During the time that the application for LPR status is pending, an alien may travel on his or her H1B visa rather than obtaining advance parole or requesting other advance permission from Immigration to return to the USA.



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