The main temporary work visa for degree-level roles — still available in 2026, now more expensive for new overseas hires.
H-1B covers "specialty occupations" — roles that normally require at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field directly related to the job, such as engineering, IT, finance, or medicine. It requires a US employer to sponsor you and file the petition on your behalf.
Two significant changes have reshaped H-1B over the past year:
H-1B is subject to an annual numerical cap: 65,000 visas under the regular cap, plus an additional 20,000 reserved for applicants holding a US master's degree or higher. USCIS runs an electronic registration period, typically in March, for an October 1 start date. Certain employers — universities, affiliated nonprofit entities, and some research organizations — are cap-exempt and can sponsor H-1B workers year-round.
H-1B is a "dual intent" visa: you can hold H-1B status while your employer separately sponsors you for a green card, such as through EB-2 or EB-3, without that undermining your H-1B status the way it might on a purely non-immigrant visa category.
No. It generally applies to new petitions for workers currently outside the US. It generally does not apply to most extensions for existing holders, or to change-of-status filings for workers already in the US — though it's worth confirming your exact situation with a licensed attorney.
An annual electronic registration, typically in March, for an October 1 start. 65,000 visas under the regular cap plus 20,000 for US master's degree holders. Selection has been shifting toward a wage-weighted model that favors higher-wage registrations.
Yes. H-1B is a dual-intent visa — you can hold H-1B status while separately pursuing a green card such as EB-2 or EB-3, without jeopardizing your status.
