What Is the H-1B Visa?

The H-1B visa is one of the most popular visa categories for highly skilled workers holding bachelor’s degrees or higher. What is the H-1B visa and who qualifies? Maggie Murphy and Amy Lighter, immigration attorneys at Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL), explain the basics of the H-1B visa, including eligibility requirements, the visa stay period, caps on total visas issued under the H-1B program, and the registration and lottery process for petitions. As the registration period in 2022 opens on March 1 for the fiscal year 2023 H-1B cap, Maggie and Amy advise on the timeline for planning and the type of supporting information to prepare ahead of time.

 

Learn about alternative visas to the H-1B: H-1B Alternatives.

 

  Maggie Murphy is a partner in the Austin office of BAL. She specializes in complex business immigation solutions.

  Amy Lighter is a senior associate in the Santa Clara office of BAL. She focuses on U.S. immigration matters, consulting with high-volume corporate clients.