What is the H-1B Visa?

The H-1B visa program allows a U.S. employer to employ a foreign worker in the United States on a temporary basis in a specialty occupation or as a fashion model of distinguished merit and ability.  A specialty occupation requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of specialized knowledge and a bachelor's degree or the equivalent in the specific specialty (e.g., sciences, medicine and health care, education, biotechnology, engineering, business specialties, etc).

Current laws limit the number of foreign workers who may be issued an H1-B visa or otherwise be provided H-1B status to 65,000.  Due to this current limitation, all new H-1B visa petitions must be prepared and submitted by April 1 for employment scheduled to commence October 1 of that year.  Submission by the April 1st deadline also does not guarantee evaluation of the petition by the USCIS due to the enormous demand for H-1B visas and the limited number available under today's U.S. immigration laws.