Temporary Work Visas

Practice Areas

H-1B Visas

Understanding H-1B Visas

The H-1B is a temporary work visa available to professionals employed in specialty occupations. One of the most common types of employment-based visas, the H-1B enables the qualified worker (and his/her spouse and children) to live in the United States for an initial period of up to three years. This visa may be extended for an additional three-year period. In most cases, when the employer starts the permanent residency process before the end of the employee’s fifth year in H-1B status, the H-1B can be extended beyond six years. The H-1B often serves as the link between temporary work authorization and permanent residency.

Requirements for the H-1B Visa

Employers wishing to file an H-1B petition for a foreign employee must follow strict government regulations. The first step in the H-1B process is for the employer to create a “Public Access File” and to file an electronic Labor Condition Application (“LCA”) with the Department of Labor. Part of the LCA process is for the employer to attest that it will pay the foreign worker a specific minimum salary that is usually determined by the United States Department of Labor wage surveys for a given geographic area and industry.
Once the Department of Labor certifies the LCA, the employer can then file the H-1B petition and supporting documentation. The petition must include evidence that the foreign worker possesses advanced skills in a specific area. The foreign employee usually must hold a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree or the equivalent. Individuals in a variety of industries can qualify for the H-1B visa including, IT, software engineering, biotech, architecture, marketing, finance, etc.

The H-1B Cap

Congress has allocated a finite number of H-1B visas per year, which results in what is commonly referred to as the “H-1B cap.” Approximately 65,000 H-1B visas are available per fiscal year (October 1 through September 30) for new applicants who hold at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. A certain amount of the 65,000 H-1B visas per year are reserved for H-1B1 visas held by nationals of Chile and Singapore, so the exact number available each year fluctuates depending on the number of H-1B1 applications received each year. An additional 20,000 H-1Bs are available to first-time applicants who hold a U.S. master’s degree or higher. Please note that applicants who already hold an H-1B visa and those who are sponsored by universities and certain affiliated nonprofit organizations may be exempt from the cap.

How Long are L visas Valid?

On December 6, 2019, USCIS announced the implementation of a new H-1B Registration process. This new process changes how the government chooses and accepts H-1B cap petitions to review.
Now employers must electronically register during the period designated by USCIS in March each year. Following the registration, USCIS will conduct the lottery and notify companies if their petitions were selected. If the petition is selected in the lottery, the employer will be able to submit an H-1B petition to USCIS within 90 days.

The ‘H-1B Lottery’

Over the last several years, USCIS has received more than the allocated number of visas it can approve each year. This results in a computer-generated random selection process, which is often referred to as the “H-1B lottery.”
The “H-1B lottery” is used to select a sufficient number of petitions needed to meet the 65,000 cap for the general category and the 20,000 petitions under the advance degree cap. If a cap-subject petition is not selected in the random lottery, USCIS will reject and return the H-1B petition and will not cash the filling checks.
USCIS essentially conducts two lotteries. First, it conducts the general lottery for the 65,000 visa limit. If the agency receives more than 20,000 petitions filed on behalf of workers who have a U.S. master’s degree from certain qualifying institutions, those advanced degree petitions are then put into a second lottery consisting of only those H-1B petitions where the individual has a Master’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution.
Since only a certain number of new cap subject H-1B petitions can be approved each year, it is essential for employers to consult early with an immigration attorney to assure new H-1B petitions are prepared prior to the registration period.

Spouses and Children of H-1B Visa Holders

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of H-1B visa holders may be eligible for H-4 visas. The H-4 visa does not provide employment authorization, with limited exceptions.

When Can An H-4 Spouse Get a Work Permit?

As of May 26, 2015 some H-4 spouses of H-1B visa holders are eligible to apply for an employment authorization document. Speaking about extending work authorization to some spouses of H-1B visa holders, USCIS Director Leon Rodriguez said that “it helps U.S. businesses keep their highly skilled workers by increasing the chances these workers will choose to stay in this country during the transition from temporary workers to permanent residents. It also provides more economic stability and better quality of life for the affected families.”

Under the regulation, H-4 spouses of H-1B visa holders are eligible for employment authorization if the H-1B visa holders:

Proper business-related activities include:

  • Are the principal beneficiaries of an approved I-140 visa petition; or
  • Have been granted an extension of their H-1B status under AC21 (which applies to extensions of H-1B status after the filing of either a labor certification or an I-140 visa petition).

Most spouses of H-1B visa holders are not eligible for work authorization. Those who are eligible are typically those whose spouses have immigrant visa petitions and green card applications that are subject to long backlogs.

Connecting Your Business With International Talent

At Becker & Lee LLP, employment-based immigration is one of our primary practice areas. Our experienced attorneys have worked with a range of talented individuals, employers and human resources professionals to obtain H-1B, and other temporary work visas for their employees. Past clients include California universities, Silicon Valley tech companies, and a range of additional startups and businesses.

Our H-1B visa lawyers offer comprehensive representation to help ensure legal compliance and help increase chances of success in the visa application process. Contact our San Francisco Bay Area law firm to learn more about your options.

Get In Touch

We are ready to answer your individual or business immigration questions.
We just need a brief description of your case. You can discuss all of the details when you speak with someone from our team.

How We Can Help You

Discover a world of possibilities with Becker.

Temporary Work Visas

Embark on Your U.S. Career Journey with Temporary Work Visas. Open Doors to Exciting Opportunities and Professional Growth. Act Now!

Employment – based Green Cards

Your Path to Permanent Residency and a Thriving Career Awaits. Discover Employment-Based Green Cards to Secure Your Future in the United States. Take Action Today!

Humanitarian Immigration

Be a Beacon of Hope – Champion Humanitarian Causes with Our Immigration Services. Make a Positive Impact and Start Your Humanitarian Immigration Journey. Join Us Now!

Family Immigration

Embrace the Joy of Reuniting with Your Family in the U.S. Explore Our Comprehensive Family Immigration Services. Let's Begin the Process to Bring Your Loved Ones Closer. Connect Today!