H1-B Visa
The H-1B Visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows foreign professionals to work in the United States in specialty occupations that typically require a bachelor’s degree or higher. It is one of the most common U.S. work visas for fields like technology, finance, engineering, and research.
Who is the Visa for?
Foreign professionals with a U.S. job offer in qualifying fields, including:
Software Engineers
IT Consultants
Data Scientists
Mechanical/Electrical Engineers
Financial Analysts
Scientists & Researchers
Architects
Marketing & Business Professionals
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the H-1B visa, applicants must:
Have a valid job offer from a U.S. employer in a specialty occupation
Possess at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in a relevant field
Be sponsored by the U.S. employer, who files Form I-129 with USCIS
Meet any licensing or certification requirements for the job (if applicable)
Specialty occupations are defined under 8 CFR §214.2(h) and typically include jobs that require highly specialized knowledge
Visa Duration
Initial Stay: Up to 3 years
Extensions: Maximum of 6 years total (exceptions may apply for those in the green card process)
Dependents: Spouses and children may apply for H-4 visas (H-4 spouses may work under certain conditions)
Processing Time:
Regular Processing: Varies by USCIS Service Center (typically 3–6 months, but can be longer)
Premium Processing (Form I-907): 15 calendar days
OpenSphere Services:
Labor Condition Application (LCA) filing
Full petition preparation & filing (Form I-129)
Premium processing support
RFE (Request for Evidence) response strategy
End-to-end legal guidance for both employer & employee
