H-1B Specialty Occupation Work Visa
Embassy required
- Maximum stay
- 1095 days
- Processing time
- Regular: ~7 months; Premium: 15 days
- Fee
- $100,000+ USD
- Validity
- Initial 3 years, extendable to 6 years total
- Entry
- Multiple entry
Eligibility
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Employment
Must have job offer in specialty occupation requiring theoretical and practical application of highly specialized knowledge. Position must require bachelor's degree or higher in specific specialty as minimum entry requirement.
Required status: Job offer in specialty occupation from US employer
Documents you need
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Passport
Blank pages required: 1; Validity months: 6
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Photo
Count: 1; Specifications: 2x2 inches, color, white background, taken within 6 months. Digital: 600-1200 pixels square, JPEG, under 240KB.
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Employment letter
Provide a signed employer letter confirming your role, leave dates, salary and return to work.
Must include leave approval: No; Must include position: Yes; Must include salary: Yes
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Application form
Use the official application form for this route and complete all required fields.
Form name: DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (after I-129 petition approval); Form url: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/
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Petition approval notice
Form number: Form I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker (filed by employer); Must be original: No
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Degree attestation
Attesting authority: Degree must relate to specialty occupation; Must be apostilled: No
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Work contract
Provide a signed job offer, contract or assignment letter showing the role, dates and employer.
Must be notarized: No; Must be translated: Yes
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Labor market assessment
Assessment number: LCA case number (ETA-9035); Issuing authority: Issuing authority
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Expedited processing fee
Fee amount: $2,965 USD; Processing time: 15 calendar days
How to apply
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Online application
Employer registers for H-1B lottery during annual registration period (typically early March for FY starting October 1). Registration fee $215 per beneficiary.
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Document gathering
If selected in lottery, employer gathers documents: job offer letter, degree certificates, LCA (Labor Condition Application) from Department of Labor, company documents.
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Fee payment
Employer files Form I-129 with USCIS paying: $460 base fee + $100,000 new fee (with exemptions) + $600 asylum fee (standard employers) + optional $2,965 premium processing (15-day guarantee as of March 2026).
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Processing wait
USCIS processes I-129 petition. Regular processing ~7 months. Premium processing 15 days.
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Interview
Attend visa interview at US embassy/consulate with I-129 approval notice, DS-160 confirmation, passport, degrees, employment letter.
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Visa collection
Collect passport with visa stamp.