
How long can a H1B visa holder stay in the US?
A foreign worker with an H-1B visa can stay in the U.S. for a maximum of six years (plus extensions in certain circumstances, discussed below). The H-1B visa is initially valid for three years and can then be extended for another three years.
Can I apply for H1B extension after 6 years?
The H1B holder will not be eligible for this 1 year H1B extension after 6 years if he or she fails to file for Adjustment of Status or an immigrant visa within one year of the priority date becoming current. In order to obtain the one year H1B extension beyond 6 years,...
Can a H-1B visa be extended to a spouse?
H-1B Visa Extension Process for Spouses Spouses of H-1B holders are eligible to extend their H-4 upon the expiration of the 6-year limit. This extension is usually granted as long as the H4 holder has not committed any crimes or violated the regulations of their visa. The extension should be filed with

Can H-1B visa be extended beyond 6 years?
H1B status can be extended in three year increments, indefinitely, past the sixth year if the foreign national has an approved I-140 and the foreign national is unable to file for Adjustment of Status or apply for an immigrant visa because an immigrant visa number is unavailable, in other words, the priority date is ...
Can you extend H-1B after 3 years?
A request for an extension can be for a maximum of 3 years or less as long as the beneficiary has not exceeded the 6 year maximum in H-1B status. We recommend that once the petition for an H-1B extension has been filed, the H-1B worker should not travel outside the United States. According to 8 C.F.R.
Can H-1B visa get extended?
Under normal circumstances, a foreign national is initially granted a period of stay of 3 years in H-1B status. When you near the end of that period, you will be able to apply for an H-1B visa extension up to a total of 6 years. An employer, however, can only request a total of 3 years on any given H petition.
Can H-1B visa be extended after expiry?
An H-1B visa is generally good for three years. The visa may be extended for an additional three years. To obtain an extension, the employer must file a new Form I-129 and submit additional filing fees.
What is the cost of H-1B extension?
Therefore, an H-1B extension fee is only $460 for the I-129 filing. However, the H-1B transfer cost is anywhere from $1,710 to $6,460 depending on whether your employer is required to pay the higher ACWIA fee and the Public Law fee.
How can H-1B get green card?
Your employer must file a Green Card through H1B visa petition on your behalf, including a PERM Labor Certification, an Application for Employment Certification and an Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (form I-140).
Can H-1B extended beyond 9 years?
The H-1B visa and status is initially valid for three years and can then be extended for another three years. At the expiration of the maximum period of stay, the foreign worker must either leave the U.S. or obtain a different immigration status (such as an F-1 student or O-1 "extraordinary ability" worker).
How long can I stay on H-1B without job?
60 daysAs per Dept. of Homeland Security(DHS) regulation that came into effect in Jan 2017, H1B Visa holders can get a grace period of up to 60 days, if they lose their job due to layoff or any other unforeseen reasons, before the end of their H1B petition validity.
What Time Counts Toward the H-1B Six-Year Maximum?
When calculating how much time an H-1B worker has remaining, it is important to understand exactly what time periods count toward the six-year maximum.
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Nolo is a part of the Martindale Nolo network, which has been matching clients with attorneys for 100+ years.
How long does a spouse have to be on an H-1B visa?
For example, let's say a worker is in the U.S. with an H-1B visa and his wife is in the U.S. with an H-4 visa (available to spouses of H-1B workers). The couple lives in the U.S. for four years. If, after four years, the wife decides to change status to H-1B, she is entitled to the full six years of H-1B status.
When is the cutoff date for green card application 2021?
Per the March 2021 Department of State Visa Bulletin, the cutoff date for your category is February 8, 2018 (meaning only persons with priority dates before that date can apply for green cards at that time). Therefore, your priority date is NOT current, and you cannot yet file your green card application.
Can you recapture time you spent outside of the US?
If you have an L-1 visa and leave the country, you can recapture that time you spent outside of the U.S. and apply it to your remaining H-1B time). Another important point is that any time you spend in the U.S.as a "dependent" spouse or child of a person in H or L status does NOT count toward the six-year maximum if you get your own H-1B status.
Do three months of stay count towards the six year maximum?
Those three months away from the U.S. do not count towards the six-year maximum. This concept is critically important because immigration law allows H-1B workers to "recapture" any lost time so as to take advantage of the full six-year maximum.
How long can Karla's employer recapture her H1B?
on April 1, 2011, which is approximately 181 days. Thus, the employer can recapture 281 days (181 + 100) and seek H1B extension beyond 6 years.
How long does it take for Tony to get an extension on his H1B?
Additionally, once Tony’s H1B is about to expire again in 3 years, his employer can seek H1B extension beyond 6 years by requesting the remaining 35 days of recapture time in addition to any additional time he spends outside the U.S.
How long can you extend your H1B?
Of course, rules have exceptions and the 6-year limit on H1Bs is no different. There are several strategies available to seek an H1B extension after 6 years. Let’s examine these strategies here.
Why did Eduardo leave the US?
He was forced to leave the U.S. because he had reached his six-year limit and the employer had not filed a Labor Certification in time for him to be eligible for a 1-year H1B extension after 6 years. He also exhausted all of his recapture time.
How to file an H1B extension?
The employer has 2 immediate options: 1 Continue the current course and file the H1B extension requesting a 1 year extension with a starting validity date of at least 365 days after the Labor Certification was filed. Once approved, Eduardo can come back to the U.S. and resume employment. 2 The employer can immediately prepare and file the I-140. If the employer files via Premium Processing, USCIS should make a decision within 15 calendar days. Once the I-140 is approved, the employer can file an H1B petition and request a 3-year extension of Eduardo’s H1B as his priority date will most likely still be retrogressed because he is a national of the Philippines. Once approve, Eduardo can come back to the U.S. and resume employment.
What is Rahul's job?
Rahul is working as an Accountant at an Accounting Firm. He is in H1B status and his status expires on 5/31/2017 (the end of his 6th year). On 5/31/2016, his employer files a Labor Certification with the U.S. Department of Labor. After pending for 5 months, the application is chosen for Audit by the DOL, to which the employer responds. Approximately five months before his H1B expires, the employer inquires with the attorney regarding whether or not Rahul is eligible for an extension of H1B.
How long do you have to stay in the US to get a new H1B?
Once H1B holders reach that six-year maximum, they must leave the U.S. and remain outside for at least one year before being eligible for a new six years of H1B. Furthermore, in order to return to the U.S. in H1B status, they have to go through the H1B Cap again by surviving the H1B lottery.
How long can an H1B visa be extended?
H1B visa status can be granted initially for up to three years, and then can be extended for another three years.
How long is the I-140 extension?
1 year extension Based on Pending PERM or I-140 petition under AC-21 104 (a) – Per DHS final rule, taking effect on January 17, 2017.
How long can you request an extension for AC21?
May request time remaining in 6 years at the same time as requesting a 3-year AC21 extension.
When is a LC petition final?
Decision to deny or revoke an LC or IV petition is not final until administrative appeals have been exhausted.
Is AC21 time spent subject to recapture?
Time spent beyond the six-year limit granted under AC21 eligibility is not subject to recapture.
Can you stay in a court case after the expiration date?
This rule does not allow you to stay beyond the expiration date requested in the petition for which you are awaiting the decision.
Who is the beneficiary of an I-140 petition?
The foreign national is the beneficiary of an approved I-140 petition.
What are the potential issues that an H1B visa holder might have?
The only potential issue that an H1B visa holder might have is if other immigration policies somehow restrict entry. For example, when the Trump administration banned entry to the US for citizens of some countries, there were H1B visa holders that got trapped outside the country for a while.
How long is an H1B visa valid?
For example, if you left for three months, the H1B is valid for six years, three months total.
How long does it take to get an I140 revoked?
USCIS only revokes i140 if they find fraud or misrepresentation by your employer after 180 days. You cannot use the i140 if it has been revoked. Employers may request the i140 withdrawal even after 180 days. Do not worry if the USCIS case status shows as ‘withdrawn’ online.
What is H1B recapture?
H1B recapture means filing an H1B extension to push your 6 year end date forward by utilizing your holidays spent outside US.
How long does it take for an I140 to be withdrawn?
Your i140 stays valid if it has not been withdrawn by the employer within 180 days after its approval. You can use the withdrawn i140 as many times as you want to extend or transfer your H1B.
How long does it take to get approved for an I140?
My suggestion is to upgrade your i140 application to premium if you are on the verge of reaching your max out. Get approval in 15 days and immediately file an extension.
How long can you extend your Perm?
With pending PERM filed 365 days ago, your Employer can request a 1-year extension for you before the end of the 6th year.
Can I transfer my H1B to Employer B?
You can do H1B transfer and can start working with Employer B anytime during your i-140 is pending .
Can I file H1B while I140 is pending?
You can file H1B transfer while your i140 is pending approval. I-140 petition is for a future job with Employer A and hence, unless I-140 is explicitly revoked by your Employer A (current employer), the petition remains valid and will reach a decision stage someday.

What Time Counts Toward The H-1B Six-Year maximum?
Exceptions to Six-Year Maximum Stay For H-1Bs
- Two groups of H-1B visa holders qualify to extend their visa past the normal six-year maximum. These are outlined in a law called the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act, commonly referred to as AC21. First, an H-1B worker can extend H-1B status if the worker is the beneficiary of an approved immigrant worker petition (I-140) a...
How Long Can An H-1B Worker's Children Stay in The United States?
- Unlike a spouse, who has unlimited H-4 eligibility, to continue qualify for an H-4 visa, the children of an H-1B visa holder must remain unmarried and under the age of 21. Unfortunately, they have no control over their age. That means that their status might run out sooner than their parents', unless the parent successfully obtains green cards for the family first, or the child finds another s…