how to apply to h1b visa

Here are the steps you need to go through in order to apply for the H1B visa:

• Make sure you qualify for the H1B visa.
• Find a petitioner by applying for a job opening in the United States.
• Have the petitioning initiated by your employer.
• Apply for the H1B visa at the nearest US Embassy/Consulate in your home country.

Full Answer

What is the procedure to get H1B visa?

In addition to the employers, employees or H1B applicants also have to complete these steps:

• Fill in Form DS-160. The DS-160 is the most important part of the application. ...
• Schedule an interview. Try to schedule the interview as early as possible. ...
• Pay the H1B visa fees. The application fee is $190.
• Submit required documents for H1B Visa.
• Attend the H1B interview. ...

What are the job requirements for a H1-B visa?

What are the requirements for the H1B visa? You must have a job offer from a US company. ... There must be a valid employer-employee relationship. ... There must not be any labor disputes at the workplace. ... The job must be considered a specialty occupation position. ... The job must require a bachelor's or higher degree (or equivalent). ... You must have paid all outstanding fees. ... More items...

Can I go for a visa interview with approved H1B?

You can schedule your visa interview with your receipt number, beginning with EAC or WAC, on your H-1B petition receipt. During a visa appointment, you will be fingerprinted, photographed, and interviewed about your visa application and your prospective stay in the United States.

Is H1B a nonimmigrant visa?

The H-1B program applies to employers seeking to hire nonimmigrant aliens as workers in specialty occupations or as fashion models of distinguished merit and ability. A specialty occupation is one that requires the application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and the attainment of at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.

How can I apply for US H1B visa?

Here are the steps that employers need to go through to petition a foreign worker:Have a Labor Condition Application (LCA).File a petition with USCIS.Fill in form I-129.Submit the forms and the documents file.Wait for the review from USCIS.

Can I apply for H1B visa on my own?

If I would like to work in the US, can I apply for an H-1B visa by myself? No, this is not possible. To apply for this visa, you must have a job offer from a U.S. company or organization.

What is the minimum salary to get H-1B visa?

$60,000For the $60,000 wage to be determined, the nonimmigrant has to receive an annual salary or hourly wages that in total make at least $60,000, whether the worker has a full-time or part-time job.

Is H-1B visa hard to get?

How Difficult Is It To Get an H1B Visa? H1B visa requirements can be difficult to meet because you must first be hired by a U.S. employer who is willing to sponsor you. Competition for jobs in the United States is fierce, and demand for visas to enter the US grows daily.

Do I need a lawyer to apply for H1B visa?

Even the sponsor does not technically have to hire an attorney and may file the visa without one. However, due to the complexity of the process and administrative changes, as a sponsor, it is advisable to hire an attorney, especially for first-time sponsors unfamiliar with the process.

How can I get H1B visa without sponsorship?

One of the questions we receive the most during this time of year is, “Can I apply for an H-1B visa without a sponsor?” The short answer is no. The reason is that an H-1B visa petition always requires an American company, called a Petitioner, to file the visa.

Can I sponsor myself for work visa?

Some of these visas, such as the EB-1 visa allow self-petitioning. This means that in some cases, if you have such extraordinary abilities you can sponsor your own visa. You must submit all the documents and pay the fees yourself. Other visas, such as the EB-5 visa only work through self-petitioning.

When should I start applying for H1B?

For employers who are subject to the cap (and because the cap may be reached early every year), it is best to submit the H-1B application in April for the start of the new fiscal year on October 1 when the new batch of 65,000 H-1B visas become available.

What is the I-129 form?

Once the LCA process has been completed, the employer can proceed to submit the H-1B petition by filing the I-129. Form I-129 is officially known as the Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker. The employer must be sure to include the employment letter with the position’s exact duties, dates of employment, detailed description, salary offered, position requirements, contact information, etc.

What documents are included in a foreign employee's supporting documents?

The foreign employee’s academic qualifications, training certificates, membership documents, resume, and letter of support must also be included as part of supporting documents.

Can I change my status on my I-129?

Change of Status: Once the I-129 is approved, the USCIS will update your I-94 record to indicate your new visa class to H-1B status. With this, you can take up your new job position as an H-1B visa holder. This is only available to those that are already under a valid nonimmigrant status such as O-1, J-1, or L-1 status.

How to Extend the H1B Visa?

The H1B extension procedures are similar to the initial application process. You will need to pay the same fees, except for the Fraud Prevention and Protection Fee. Your employer will also have to follow the same procedures for getting certification from DOL and an approved petition from USCIS. In addition, you will submit these documents:

How much does it cost to get an H1B visa?

Besides the $190 for the H1B application at the embassy additional fees you have to pay for the H1B visa are:

How Long Can I Stay in the US with an H1B Visa?

The H1B visa is initially valid for 3 years but can extend for another 3 years. In total, a person can stay and work in the US for 6 years at most. However, that does not mean that the person must return to their home country. What makes the H1B visa popular is that it is a dual intent visa.

What is H1B Visa Stamping?

In case you are granted an H1B visa, you need to go on and apply for the H1B visa stamping. This a process on its own, and you should check out the H1B visa stamping article for more details.

How to See My H1B Status Updates?

When your employer submits the H1B visa petition, you will receive a 13-digit receipt number which you can use to check on your H1B status on the USCIS website . The receipt number starts with an “ EAC, WAC, LIN, SRC, NBC, MSC or IOE” and is followed by 10 numbers. Your status could state one of the following:

What Kind of Health Insurance Am I Eligible For?

The type of H1B health insurance you are eligible for depends on how long you will be staying in the United States. As an H1b visa holder you can have:

What is an H1B amendment?

The H1B Amendment requires US employers to file an amended petition in case the employee has any material changes. Material changes are defined as anything that impacts the employee’s eligibility for an H1B visa. The USCIS does not give a list of what qualifies as such a change, but examples include:

What is the H1B visa?

By this visa, companies can hire people who have a university degree for certain professions. Due to this, it is also known as a Person in Specialty Occupation Visa. Therefore, if the applicant has the following characteristics, he/she can apply for this visa:

What are the H1B visa requirements?

This job position requires a specialist who has a university degree or has taken specialized courses in a particular field. Expert people are people with special skills that not many people can do their tasks successfully. Specialists in information technology, physicians, lawyers, accountants, architects, and professors are some of the experts who are eligible to receive the H1B visa.

How to renew the H1B visa?

The same costs must be paid except for the Fraud Prevention and Protection Fee. The employer must go through the previous steps to obtain approval from the United States Department of Labor and the USCIS. The documents required to renew an H1B visa are:

How to access healthcare under this visa?

The type of insurance that an H1B visa holder can choose depends on the length of your stay in the US. The types of insurance that the visa holder can choose are:

How long is a H1B visa valid?

Initially, this visa is valid for three years. It can then be extended for another three years. So in most cases, you can use this visa to stay and work in the US for six years. This visa is a dual visa, meaning that the holder can apply to change the H1B visa status to an immigrant visa. So if you are qualified and have an appropriate job offer, you can apply for an Employment-Based Green Card.

How much does it cost to get an H1B visa?

If you make this appointment earlier, it will be better for you. The application fee for H visa categories is about $ 190. The cost of issuing the visa will depend on the embassy. In this case, you should seek guidance from the embassy where you are applying from.

How many applications does USCIS approve annually?

From October 1st until September 30th, the USCIS approves about 65,000 applications annually.

What form do I need to get an H1B visa?

Once your petition is approved, you will be provided a work permit, Form I-797, which allows you to obtain an H1B visa and work in the United States.

How many H1B visas are there?

You should also remember that there is a lottery system for the H1B visa process. The maximum number of H1B visas provided ever year is 65,000 and the quota for applicants with a Master’s degree is 20,000. You are eligible for the H1B visa application process, only if you get selected in this lottery system.

How to get a receipt for a visa?

You will have to create a profile on the US Visa Service site and choose a suitable mode of payment. After you have paid the fee , you will get a receipt. Take a printout of the fee receipt and keep it handy.

How long before visa interview do you have to make an appointment?

Make sure you schedule the appointment at the Visa Application Centre at least 2 days before your visa interview at the embassy. You will have to submit your biometrics and photograph at the center. You will need to bring your passport, confirmation page for Form DS-160, and confirmation page of the visa appointments to the center.

How to pay visa fee?

You can pay the visa fee electronically too, via bank transfer, or can choose to pay it in cash from a designated Axis or Citibank branch . The visa fee page describes the various modes through which you can make the payment.

Where to book visa appointment?

After paying the visa fee, you need to book two appointments, one at the Visa Application Centre and the other at the US embassy or consulate closest to you. You can check the details and documents required for scheduling the appointments at this site.

How many digits are in a visa barcode?

Once you have completed and submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation letter with a 10-digit barcode, which will be required for scheduling your visa interview. You can check the details of the application on this website.

What information is obtained for the application?

Information is obtained for the application, including a detailed job description, exact dates of proposed employment, employer’s information, employee/beneficiary’s qualifications and work experience;

How long does it take to complete an immigration quiz?

All our eligibility quizzes are prepared by experienced immigration attorneys and are easy to use and understand. It only takes several minutes to complete a quiz and find out if you all eligible to apply. If you pass the quiz we will automatically choose all required forms for your immigration case

Can an attorney review an immigration application?

With our Attorney Application Review option, you can choose to have an experienced immigration attorney review your application and correct any mistakes.

Can I work for more than one employer?

Yes. You may work for more than one US employer, however, each employer must file a Form I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker.

What is an online USCIS account?

There are three types of USCIS online accounts: Applicant/petitioner/requestor account – Individuals use this type of account to prepare and file applications, petitions or other benefit requests. You cannot use this account type to prepare or submit H-1B registrations.

How does electronic registration help employers?

The electronic registration process has streamlined processing by reducing paperwork and data exchange, and has provided overall cost savings to employers seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions.

Do I need to file a G-28 with an I-129?

A: Yes. The attorney, however, would need to file a G-28 with the Form I-129 H -1B petition to authorize their representation . Note that even if the attorney submitted a G-28 to represent a client for the registration process, they would still need to submit a new G-28 with the I-129 petition. Q.

How long do you have to submit payslips for H1B visa?

Usually your employer would ask you to submit payslips for the last one year or the offer letter or joining letter for the H1B visa application.

When is the lottery for H1B?

Usually all the applications for H1B are submitted to the USCIS right before April of every year. Most employers would probably send you an email informing you the same.

How much is H1B 2021?

The H1B fees vary depending on the size of the company. As of FY 2021 season, it can range anywhere from $1,710 USD to $7,910 USD + Attorney Fee. In the last few years the fees have changed. You can check for the updates on USCIS website.

What would the security check on a VAC appointment?

Once there, the security would check your appointment letter and passport to let you in. In the building, the VAC staff would verify it again. Then a token will be issued for biometrics & photos.

What do you need to fill out before applying for a visa?

Each employer sends you a U.S. visa questionnaire to fill in before filing your application. This would contain questions on the client name and address, the consulate that would process your application, and your personal details.

What is the form for nonimmigrant visa?

Once your petition is approved and you have an idea of when you would be traveling to the United States, it’s time to fill in the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form called DS-160. It’s quite a long form where you need to fill in a lot of information, that would include both personal and professional information.

How long does it take for USCIS to process a SLA?

If your application is filed in regular processing, there is no SLA from USCIS. They can process it anywhere from few weeks to 6 months or more.

Overview

The H-1B program applies to employers seeking to hire nonimmigrant aliens as workers in specialty occupations or as fashion models of distinguished merit and ability. A specialty occupation is one that requires the application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and the attainment of at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.

Key News

On January 15, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor (Department) issued an Office of Foreign Labor Certification H-1B Program Bulletin and a Wage and Hour Division Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) revising its interpretation of its regulations concerning which employers of H-1B workers must file Labor Condition Applications.

What is an H1B visa?

The H1B visa requires that the employer is authorized to employ foreign nationals through the H1B route. This authorisation takes the form of a Labour Condition Application, submitted to and granted by the US Department of Labour.

What is an EB2?

Multi-national executive or manager who meets certain criteria. Second preference immigrant worker (EB2) – one or more of the following must apply: Member of a profession that requires an advanced degree. Exceptional ability in the sciences, the arts or business. Seeking a national interest waiver.

What is priority date for USCIS?

Your priority date is the date that USCIS receive the I-140 form. You must wait until your priority date before you can take the next step, which is to apply for Adjustment of Status.

Can an H1B visa be used for permanent residency?

For an H1B visa holder who meets all the eligibility criteria to apply for US permanent residency, the process includes a number of steps to be taken by both you and your sponsoring employer.

Is H1B visa easy to get?

The H1B visa route to US permanent residency is not always straightforward. It is crucial to ensure you work to the correct timescales and ensure eligibility and that your application documentation is comprehensive and compliant