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An H-1B visa is necessary for those who wish to work in the US. It is a highly prized visa that sees 200,000 applicants each year! But, unfortunately, only a few of these persons managed to get this coveted visa.
So, what is this H1-B visa, and how do you apply for it?
Find out everything you need to know below!
H-1B visa is a type of Visa the USA government issues. It permits people from other countries to work in the US. Moreover, any foreigner applying for this visa must work in a field/position where a US-based worker cannot be found. Hence, these rules are pretty strict and enforced rigorously.
Firstly, it should be known that your employer pays partly for this visa and submits necessary documents on behalf of you. Moreover, an employer must prove that no specialised persons already in that country can do this job to substantiate the need to bring in a foreigner.
H-1B visa eligibility involves several rules. Its criteria for eligibility are as given below:
Now you must be curious to know how to get an H-1B visa! Here’s how.
There are broadly four steps to apply for the H-1B visa. They are -
Now, we will look at how to apply for an H-1B visa in detail.
There are plenty of H-1B visa requirements, as you have already seen. Here we will discuss the H-1B visa documents required.
There are two cases. The first case is when a person lives outside the US, and the second is when a person is already in the US.
These are the documents required for an H-1B visa.
H-1B Visa for Those Outside the US
H-1B Visa for Those Living Inside the US
Moreover, it is also important to know the requirements for the passport-sized photograph that you will need to submit.
Photograph Requirements for the H-1B Visa Application
Purpose |
Fees Payable |
Registration fee |
$10 |
Standard fee for Form I-129 |
$460 |
ACWIA training fee |
$750 - $1500 |
Fraud prevention and detection fee |
$500 |
Public Law 114-113 Fee for companies with half of their workers having an H-1B or L1 status |
$4000 |
Optional fees for those who expedite the H-1B visa process with Form I-907 |
$1440 |
What is the Lottery Process of an H-1B Visa?
There is an annual limit on the number of H-1B visas that are approved. After this limit is reached, the applicants have to enter a lottery randomly. If your number is selected, then you can go through with the visa process. Otherwise, you will have to wait for the next year to apply.
How to Check the Status of H-1B Visa?
H-1B status check can be done online. Follow these steps -
What is the Validity for an H-1B Visa?
The H-1B visa is valid for up to 3 years. After that, it can be extended for another three years. After that, you will need to apply for an F-1 student or an O-1 worker.
To extend the visa after six years, a petitioner, either your current employer or a new employer, must file Form I-126.
How Long Does It Take to Process an H-1B Visa?
Successful petitions take around 3-5 days to get processed. However, the H1B petition period can take 3 to 6 months. However, if premium processing is requested, the process takes 15 calendar days.
You can check your visa status by calling on 1-800-375-5283. Depending on the call volumes, you can check your H-1B visa status without a receipt number.
There are plenty of benefits of the H-1B visa, especially for the person and their family. They are -
In conclusion, it is no secret why the H-1B is such a popular and coveted visa. However, it has been abused by employers in the past and, hence, the strictness of the rules at present.