what are the documents required for h1b visa

Required Supplementary Documentation for the H-1B Visa Process:

• A copy of the passport.
• Proof of prior employment.
• Evidence of existing certifications or accomplishments.
• Letter from registrar to certify completion of educational credits.
• Copy of academic or technical degrees.
• A copy of transcripts.
• Letter from the present employer.

Full Answer

What are the requirements to apply for H1B visa?

• Hold a U.S. ...
• Obtain a foreign equivalent to a U.S. ...
• Hold an unrestricted state license, registration, or certification that allows the applicant to have no limitations when engaging in the specialty occupation.
• The applicant must have received training, education, or work experience that is required for the completion of the degree. ...

More items...

Can a prospective employer file for H1B visa?

You cannot file your own H1 visa petition. Only your prospective employer who has given you a job offer may file your H1B petition on your behalf. If your case is approved, your employer will receive Form I-797 Notice of Action and forward it to you.

Who can apply for the H1B visa?

Qualifying fields of employment for the H1B Visa include:

• IT.
• Architecture.
• Engineering.
• Accounting.
• Mathematics.
• Science.
• Medicine.

How to transfer your H1B visa?

• You are not subject to any visa caps.
• You can petition any time of year.
• You can file more than one petition simultaneously, also known as “bridging”.
• You can begin work at your new job once you have a receipt notice from USCIS. ...
• You do not need permission from your current employer to file a new H-1B petition. ...

What is the minimum salary to file H1B 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. At the same time, the salary has to be paid “cash in hand” and “free and clear”, as well as paid when due.

What is the process of getting a 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.

Is it difficult to get H1B visa?

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.

How long H1B visa takes?

3 months to 1 yearHow long does H1B regular processing take? H1B regular application processing time is 3 months to 1 year for approvals. It keeps changing based on current affairs and circumstances. During COVID-19 closures, USCIS did approve many regular H1B applications within 2 weeks.

How much does it cost to apply for H1B visa?

How Much Does it Cost to Apply for H-1B Visa? The H-1B visa cost can range from $1,720 to $6,470 or more depending on attorney fees, optional fees, and employer criteria. However, only lottery-selected petitions will pay more than the $10 registration fee.

How much is H-1B application fee?

Basic filing Fee To file an H1B petition using the I-129 form, the cost to the employer is $460. It is the employer's responsibility to pay the filing fee.

Is there any interview for H1B visa?

The process is all the more extensive for people who either chose to or are mandatorily required to go through consular processing. This is because such a route requires you to face a one-to-one H1B visa interview with the immigration offer which can be a bit intimidating.

Is it easy to get H1B visa from India?

Applying for a H1B visa from India can be a long and tedious process. Any errors made on the application or petition can result in extended delays and possibly lost employment in the U.S. An experienced immigration attorney can assist with the preparation of all forms and documents necessary for obtaining an H1B visa.

How many copies of I-129 are needed for Blanket L visa?

In case of Blanket L visa applicants, three copies of the Form I-129s and one copy of the Form I-797 need to be submitted.

What is required for a blanket L1?

Blanket L1 applicants must carry the original I-129 and a copy of the Notice of Action I-797.

What form do dependents need to file?

Dependents need to submit a copy of the principal applicant's Petition (Form I-797 and Form I-129 as applicable) and visa copy.

Overview of H1b Visa

To properly understand the different documents required for an H1b visa, we like you to have an overview of what an H1b visa is all about and what does United States Citizenship and immigration services (USCIS) expects in your visa application.

Documents required for H1b visa

The USCIS may require a different set of documents for different stages of H 1b visa approval. We will categorize each stage separately.

H1b Visa Stamping Documents

After your H 1b visa petition is approved by the USCIS, the next step is to schedule your H 1b visa stamping interview.

Required H1b visa documents for dependents of H 1b beneficiary

If you also like to bring dependents, you may be required to bring the following documents:

Advice from Herman Legal Group

To have the most chances of approval of your H1b petition, you should follow the following guidelines from us.

How can Herman Legal Group help you?

Herman Legal Group has been providing immigration services for a number of years. You can consult our immigration attorney to take his expert advice for your H1b visa case.

Where to get H1B visa stamped?

If your H1B Visa petition was applied with USCIS as Consular Processing, you need to get visa stamping done at a US Consular or US Embassy. The process to apply for H1B Visa stamping is pretty much the same as general non-immigrant visa stamping. Below is the high-level process steps. You can read complete details on these at the article How to apply for US Visa Stamping.

What to do after H1B visa approval?

After you get your H1B Visa petition approved by USCIS, your next step would be to go for Visa Stamping, if you live outside of the US. To apply for the US Visa stamping, you would need to collect and carry a large set of documents for your Visa Interview. We will look at all of these documents in the below article, including documents that you need to carry if you are applying for H1B Stamping during COVID with the National Interest Exception requirements in place.

What is the name of the card with your SSN number?

Social Security Card with your SSN Number on it.

Do dependents need to carry H4 visa?

If the H1B applicant is married and has dependents, most of the time, spouse and children attend their H4 visa stamping as well along with the H1B applicant. Below is the list of documents that the dependents need to carry for the H4 visa stamping.

Can a consular officer verify a company?

If you work for very small companies or startups with less than 25 people, the US Consular officers may or may not be able to verify all the documents about the company. In such cases, you can check with your attorney and company and carry some of the supporting documents as listed below.

Do you have to carry a client letter?

It is always recommended to carry client letter, if you are working at a third party worksite. If you do not have it for a specific reason such as the client does not give such letter, have some email copy or some proof that tells that they do not issue client letter. US Consular officers want to validate that you are really employed properly, so it is best to carry all. Not having the client letter will not necessarily result in rejection, but it may lead to administrative processing, if Visa officer is not convinced.

Is it good to carry more documents?

It is always good to carry more documents as you never know what the consular officer may ask and there is no need to scramble at the last minute. You should always check the US Consulate Website in your visiting country if there is any specific checklist that is given by them.

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 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 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.

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 lottery in H1B?

The lottery is the process through which the USCIS selects which applicants will receive an H1B visa. The selection is entirely random.

What Documents you Should NOT give to H1B sponsoring company?

You should NEVER give original documents of mark sheets, passport or any other documents to anyone. You will need to carry the originals only when you go for H1B visa stamping, but not for applying H1B Visa petition with USCIS.

How much does filing H1B really Cost?

The H1B fee varies by the size of the company..As of FY 2022 season, it can range anywhere from $1,710 USD to $7,910 USD + Attorney Fee. There are various fees components that make up this number range, for full details check H1B Visa Filing Fee Details – Summary

How often do they revise H1B filing fees?

You should check USCIS website for correct H1B filing fee, as they revise fee every few years or so.

When did USCIS change H1B filing?

USCIS changed their H1B petition filing process from FY 2021 season. In the new process, they introduced H1B Registration Process, where employers need to first register the H1B applicants or employees in the H1B Registration Online Tool, whom they intend to sponsor H1B to work in US.

Do you need to copy W2 if you live in the US?

If you have lived in US and paid taxes, copy of previous W2 tax forms.

Can an employer file an H1B petition?

If an applicant is selected in H1B registration process, then the corresponding applicant’s employer can file H1B Petition with USCIS. To submit H1B petition or application with USCIS, the H1B applicant need to submit the below documents to employer for preparing the petition and submitting the same to USCIS:

Where to keep your H1B Visa Supporting Documents ?

You will need all your documents related to H1B visa, supporting documents, when you meet the CBP officer at Port of Entry. The interview with CBP officer at PoE happens before you collect your checked-in luggage bags. So, it is important that you do not put in all your documents in the checked-in bags as you will not be able to have them before the Port of Entry interview with CBP officer.

What would a CBP officer ask for in an H1B?

The CBP Officer would verify the identity of the person, would ask the H1B holder to give biometrics and take a picture as well. The CBP officer would review the applicant’s file in system and ask them common questions like where they are going to work, city name, company name, salary, validity of approval notice and may ask to give the documents to verify.

Do you put documents in checked in bags?

So, it is important that you do not put in all your documents in the checked-in bags as you will not be able to have them before the Port of Entry interview with CBP officer. So, make sure you keep all these important documents with you in person in your laptop or backpack that you carry on the plane along with you.

Do you have to show documents in transit?

You may not be asked to show these documents in transit airports, when you are have connecting flights, but it is good to have all the info.

Who do you need to carry information to meet in America?

Also, you would need to carry the information of the person you are going to meet in America. It could be your manager or one of your company’s employees. The reason is, if you end up into any issues, you can reach out to them.

Is the US port of entry for H1B visas the same as other visas?

The US Port of entry process for H1B Visa holders is no different from other visa types. The general process is same, except that for H1B visa holders, they may ask and review H1B visa related documentation. Read US Port of Entry Procedures, Common FAQs to understand the general process at port of entry and what to expect.

How to get a digital fingerprint for a visa?

First, a digital scan of the four fingers from your left hand and then the four fingers from the right hand will be taken. Finally, a digital scan of the two thumbs will be taken. Injury or cut on your finger does not qualify you for a fingerprinting waiver. You might be asked to take another appointment after the finger is healed. Without all ten original digital imprints, your application will be deemed incomplete. These fingerprints are taken for a valid reason. When you arrive at the port of entry in US, you will again give your fingerprints. These fingerprints are compared to your fingerprints taken back at the Visa Application Center to determine the genuineness of your identity.

What bags are restricted by security?

2. All bags such as travel bags, flash drives, memory sticks, Blue Tooth devices, backpacks, briefcases, suitcases, leather, cloth bags, and zip folders will be restricted by Security.

Can I bring a copy of the I-797?

1. H, L, and other petition-based visa applicants may bring copies of the I-797, I-129 and other petition-related documents.