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