Overview
The Complete H-1B Visa Guide
The H-1B visa is the primary work visa for skilled professionals in the United States. H1BVisaTracker tracks 141,363 LCA applications from 787 employers. Here is everything you need to know about the H-1B process, from start to finish.
What Is the H-1B Visa?
The H-1B visa allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations, positions that require at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. It's the most common visa for software engineers, data scientists, financial analysts, engineers, and other professionals.
The H-1B Timeline
- January-February: Find an employer willing to sponsor. Research companies using H1BVisaTracker
- March: Employer submits electronic registration ($10) during the registration period
- Late March: Lottery results announced, selected registrations can proceed
- April-June: Employer files LCA with DOL, then the full H-1B petition (I-129) with USCIS
- April-September: USCIS adjudicates (15 business days with premium processing; months otherwise)
- October 1: Earliest H-1B start date for cap-subject petitions
The Lottery: Understanding the Numbers
The annual H-1B cap is 65,000 for regular petitions plus 20,000 for applicants with U.S. master's degrees. In recent years, USCIS has received 3-4x more registrations than available slots, making selection a lottery with roughly 20-25% odds.
Cap-exempt employers (universities, nonprofit research organizations) bypass the lottery entirely, they can hire H-1B workers at any time.
Understanding Wages and Pay
Employers must pay H-1B workers at least the prevailing wage for the occupation and location, or the actual wage they pay existing employees for similar work, whichever is higher. Wages are classified into four wage levels (I-IV), from entry-level to expert.
Across all 787 employers tracked by H1BVisaTracker, the average H-1B wage is $141K.
After H-1B: The Path Forward
H-1B status lasts a maximum of 6 years. Most H-1B workers pursue a green card (permanent residency) through employer sponsorship. The process involves PERM labor certification, an I-140 petition, and adjustment of status (I-485). If the green card process is underway, H-1B workers can extend beyond 6 years.
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
The H-1B lottery selection rate has been roughly 1 in 4 to 1 in 5 in recent years, with over 400,000 registrations competing for 85,000 slots. Your chances improve if you have a U.S. master's degree (eligible for the 20,000 advanced degree pool) or if you work for a cap-exempt employer (universities, nonprofit research organizations).
The standard timeline: lottery registration in March, selection notification in March-April, petition filing April-June, start date October 1. With premium processing ($2,805), USCIS adjudicates within 15 business days. Without premium processing, it can take 3-8+ months. If you receive an RFE (Request for Evidence), add another 2-3 months.
Yes. H-1B portability allows you to change employers. Your new employer files a new H-1B petition, and you can start working as soon as it's received by USCIS (you don't need to wait for approval). The new petition is cap-exempt because you're already in H-1B status.
If your H-1B petition is denied, you must leave the U.S. unless you have another valid status (like F-1 OPT). Your employer can appeal the denial or file a motion to reopen/reconsider. If the denial was based on the lottery, you can try again the following year. If it was an adjudication denial (e.g., specialty occupation not established), you'll need to address the specific issues raised.