Temporary Skilled Worker Visa (H-1B)

Who the H-1B is for

The H-1B is built for skilled professionals working in specialized fields — engineering, academia, research, software development, and similar roles — who want to work in the U.S. temporarily, generally for up to six years. To qualify, an applicant typically needs at least a bachelor's degree (or its foreign equivalent), or a combination of relevant coursework and professional experience that adds up to the same thing.

Why timing is everything

USCIS caps H-1B approvals at 65,000 per year, and there's genuine uncertainty around exactly when that cap will be reached. Because of that, applications are generally best filed on or right around April 1 — the first day submissions are accepted each cycle. Given how tight the cap and the deadlines both are, the H-1B is usually worth considering only once other visa categories have been ruled out. If it turns out to be the right — or only — option, applicants should be ready to file by April 1 of the relevant year, with an eye toward a U.S. start date after October 1.

As the process has grown more competitive, it's become that much more important for employers bringing on international talent to get guidance from someone who works in this space regularly.