Who Qualifies for an H-1B Visa?

The H1B visa is a temporary worker visa in specialty occupations. To qualify for it, you must meet one of the following three education requirements:

• You hold a bachelor's or higher degree in the specialty occupation from an accredited college or university.
• You have 12 years of progressively responsible work experience in the specialty.
• You have a combination of education and related professional work experience in the specialty. Three years of specialized experience is generally considered equivalent to one year of college education.
  
  For example, if you have a three year associate degree, you must have at least 3 year of relevant post-graduate experience to be qualified for H1B Visa.
  
  The USCIS and Department of Labor use a point system to determine if an applicant qualifies for H1B Visa or not. The applicant must have at least 12 points:
  • 1 year of college education: 3 points
  • 1 year of professional work experience: 1 point

If the degree was earned in a foreign country, the degree must be evaluated by a third agency to determine if it is a U.S. equivalent 4 years bachelor's or higher degree from an accredited college or university. 

In addition, if the offered job is in the occupations that require licensure or professional credentials (e.g., doctor, dentist, CPA, attorney, registered nurse), you must already hold such qualification before the H1B visa petition can be filed or the licensure requirement has been waived. 

All H-1B visa jobs must meet one of the following criteria to qualify as a specialty occupation:

• Bachelor's or higher degree or its equivalent is normally the minimum entry requirement for the position
• The degree requirement for the job is common to the industry or the job is so complex or unique that it can be performed only by an individual with a degree
• The employer normally requires a degree or its equivalent for the position
• The nature of the specific duties is so specialized and complex that the knowledge required to perform the duties is usually associated with the attainment of a bachelor's or higher degree.

If the officer at USCIS determines that the position is not suitable for H-1B classification because workers without Bachelor degrees typically fill such a position, he or she will notify the employer in a "Request for Evidence" letter. 

If you qualify for H1B Visa, please search our Visa Sponsor Database and contact them directly! 

If you do not qualify for H1B Visa, please check other Work Visa programs. You might qualify for other visa like H2B visa.