H-1B Visa

H-1B visa is for person in a specialty occupation coming temporarily to U.S. Specialty occupation is defined as requiring theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and attainment of a bachelor’s or higher degree in the specific specialty (or its equivalent) as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the U.S.

Specialty occupation encompasses the definition of professional.  A “professional” has been defined to include the following accountant, acupuncturist, chef, chiropractor, computer programmer, cost-estimator, dairy management specialist, database administrator (document quality specialist), dietician, electronics specialist, fashion designer, film and video director, general manager, graphic designer, hotel manager, human resource manager, industrial designer, interior designer, investment analyst, journalist, librarian, market research analyst/senior market analyst, medical records librarian, medical technologist, minister, orthopedist, painting restorer, personal financial advisor, pharmasist, purchasing agent, rehabilitation coordinator, showroom manager, social worker, software design engineer, soil conservationist, strategic planning manager, teacher, technical publication writer, vocational counselor and webographer.

There is cap of 65,000 visas per year.  Categories that cannot be counted against 65,000 cap include: (a) persons (up to 20,000) who possess a U.S.-earned master’s or higher degree; and (b) beneficiaries of employment offers at institutions of higher education or related or affiliated nonprofit entities, or nonprofit research organizations, or governmental research of organizations.

The H-1B petition may be approved for up to 3 years, but may not exceed the period of validity of the labor certification application.  The H-1B status holder may be admitted for maximum of six years.  H-1B status may be extended in one-year increments beyond the six-year limitation if a labor certification, immigrant petition for alien worker or employment-based application to adjust status was filed at least 365 days prior to the expiration of H-1B status.  A person who remains outside of the U.S. for one year, may begin the six-year period anew.  Spouses and children accompanying an H-1B visa holder will be granted H-4 visas.

The employers (registrants), who are seeking authorization to employ H-1B workers subject to the cap, must first electronically register and pay $21 registration fee for each employee.  Since during last few years the annual cap was reached quickly, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service conducted the H-1B “lottery” to select the H-1B petitions for processing

There are four types of fees to file an H-1B petition: (i) registration $215; (ii) the standard $780.00 petition fee, plus the $600 asylum fee or $460 petition plus $300 asylum fee for employers with up to 25 employees; (iii) an additional fee of $1,500.00 (or $750.00 if the employer has fewer than 25 full-time employees); and (iv) a fraud prevention and detection fee of $500.00. If an employer has 50 or more employees and more than 50% of the employees have H-1B or L-1 status, the employer must pay a fee of $4,000.00 in addition to other fees.

On Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed a Proclamation, “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers,” that took an important, initial, and incremental step to reform the H-1B visa program to curb abuses and protect American workers. This Proclamation requires a $100,000 payment to accompany any new H-1B visa petitions submitted after 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Sept. 21, 2025.

If the employee is abroad, a visa fee applies. For more information regarding payment of those fees, click here.  A copy of the certified labor condition application must be submitted with the H-1B petition.

For more information about H-1B process and one of our cases, click here.

This article does not constitute a legal advice.  We simplified the law in order to outline the H-1B process.  If you would like to discuss if you  qualify for H-1B status, call our experienced H-1B attorney at 480-425-2009 or contact an experienced H-1B attorney via our website to schedule a consultation TODAY! We look forward to discussing how we can help you obtain your H-1B visa.