H-1B Visa is one of the most common and highly sought after U.S. work visas. Every year 85 000 new H-1B Visa are available. It always takes place on April 1 and is guided by government. 20 000 out of the 85 000 available every year are allocated to the “advanced degree cap exemption.” “Advanced degree cap exemption” means those who are with a U.S. master’s degree or higher. 65 000 out of the 85 000 are allocated to the “cap subject category”. This “cap subject category” means those people who are with a bachelor’s degree.
The peculiarity of the H1B Visa is that it is a nonimmigrant work visa. The main aim of it is to allow foreign professionals to work in the U.S. on a temporary basis; the main condition is to work in your professional occupation for an employer. For instance, it can be professionals as architects, engineers, doctors, professors, teachers, fashion designers, IT professionals or individuals who work in business and are connected with finances, marketing and public relations professionals. If you want to be qualified you must have an offer of employment from U.S. employer and the work have to be performed in the U.S.
If you want to get this Visa, you should take into consideration:
- The position you are attempting to fill must suit the requirement of a specialty occupation. There are several ways how to prove that this occupation is suitable to a specialty occupation. One of the ways is to have a bachelor’s degree or higher or its equivalent. Usually it is the minimum requirement for entry into the particular position. And the second way is to show that the nature of duties of the particular position is so specialized that it can be performed by an individual with a bachelor or higher degree.
- Bachelor’s degree is one of the most important documents that show that you are able to work in the specialty occupation field or related fields. If you don’t have bachelor’s degree, you can substitute it at a rate 3 years of work experience for 1 year of education. It means that you have to work 12 years to get this type of Visa if you don’t have bachelor’s degree. Is it important to notice that years of work experience in a specialty occupation field may vary according to the years of studying for the achievement of bachelor’s degree.
- This type of visa usually issued for the maximum period of three years initially. If needed it can be renewed for an additional three years. Taking into consideration limited circumstances in connection with a green card application, the H-1B can be extended beyond six years.