H-1B Visa Specialty Occupation

H1B VISA:

The H1B visa is used by foreign workers to come to the United States to work for U.S. employers on a temporary basis in “specialty occupations” (jobs requiring specialized knowledge and education including architects, doctors, engineers, computer programmers, nurses lawyers).

H1B status applicants must have at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in a field related to their specialty occupation.

H1B visas are granted for up to three years, but can be extended to six. After the six year limit is reached, the worker cannot return to the U.S. under an H1B visa until a year has passed. A maximum of 65,000 H1B visas can be granted per year.

Although the H1B visa requires that the foreign national work exclusively for the job the visa was issued for, the H1B visa holder is free to perform an H1B transfer, and find a job with a different employer, as long as the new employment also fits the criteria of an H1B visa.

Dependants are permitted to be brought to the United States with the holder of H1B visas, but are not permitted to work unless they have acquired separate work visas.

An immigration lawyer can help you apply for a H1B visa, H1B extension, or H1B transfer.