H1B Visa Requirements and Application

An H1B visa is a type of work visa that is provided with the help of an American employer. The employer has to prove that they cannot find an American with the skills or the education they need for the job. Highly skilled positions with college degrees or special proficiency that few people have are also favored for outsourcing. After that, the manager looks at the applications of various candidates. USA’s US H1B visa is issued to an individual who comes from another country if he/she satisfies the needs of the job.

Steps to Create a VISA H-1B

Here’s how to apply for an H1B Visa in simpler words

  • Fill out Form DS-160: It plays a crucial role among all the papers you will have to send. See that you take time to follow the procedure and provide true data.
  • Book an interview: Try to do this as early as possible. The Embassy of the US requires some time to process each application. So, it is in your best interest to be first in the line to get scheduled for an interview.
  • Pay the visa fee: The application process for the H1B visa is not cheap; it costs $205.

Required Documents

Here is the list of all the documents you will need for an H1B Visa.

  • Your current passport.
  • Copies of your passport have the most recent information (passport pages).
  • All previous passports.
  • By paying visa fees, we should have a hold of our receipts.
  • Submits a photograph that has a high resolution, a JPG file format, and a size between 66 and 100 KB.
  • Consular interview appointment letter (one original copy)
  • Your tax return forms.
  • Recent employment and names and contact details of supervisors and employers.
  • Resume or CV.
  • Income slips capsulized for the past year.
  • First and last names, as well as their contact details for two colleagues at their current and previous jobs.
  • An envelope containing a letter highlighting not only your job duties but also what you’ll be doing ​in the US.
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The Cost of H1B Visa

The application fee for the H1B visa is $205. You have to pay for the additional fees that can cost you around  $205. These fees are for the H1B application at the embassy. Hence, the amount varies among different embassies, therefore, you would better discuss the won amount with your local US Embassy before traveling. With any employer that has more than 50 employees and consists of 50% of the workers on H1B or L visas, the employer has to pay an extra $2,250 in addition to the fees that the employee/applicant had to pay.

The H1B lottery explained, what is it?

H1B visa gets sponsored through a process called lottery and is a lottery that the USCIS holds by considering different applicants. Your employer who is USCIS-permitted has to file an H1B petition in the first two weeks of March. (This lottery, for applications filed during the American government’s fiscal year 2021, opened on March 9 and closed on March 25). The IEC program started by launching three windows on the USCIS website. 

The first window has been used to take the petitions from the citizens while the second helps in selecting the winners. The H1B visa has an initial validity period of three years, and then an option to be extended for another three years. For the first 2 years in total, a person can stay and work legally in the US. 

Furthermore, another 4 years can be extended but can only be allowed once in a lifetime. This doesn’t mean that one must leave one home to go back to the other, though. This kind of visa is unique because it explicitly allows dual intent.

What to Do When H1B Visa is Coming to the End?

The process of H1B extension is similar to the procedure that is followed during the initial application of the document. You will be paying just the same charges plus the Shipping and Fraud Prevention and Protection charge. The employer working for DOL will also follow the same process including the approved petition from USCIS along with the certification from DOL.

In addition, you will submit these documents:

  • Your passport.
  • Save your I-94 from the old form (which you will get when your visa application is involved).
  • Valid I-797 Form.
  • An official letter from your employer which must include a detailed account of your work at the company and a list of the signatories.