H-1B
H-1B visa: degree professionals
H-1B is a temporary visa for jobs that require a college degree (bachelor's or equivalent) in the field, such as tech, engineering, healthcare, finance and education.
The lottery
- There are 65,000 visas a year, plus 20,000 for holders of U.S. master's or doctoral degrees. The employer registers the candidate in March.
- Since the 2026 season (fiscal year 2027 visas), the lottery is weighted by wage: the higher the job's wage level, the more entries the candidate gets.
- Universities, their affiliated nonprofits and nonprofit or government research organizations are exempt from the cap and the lottery.
The $100,000 fee
- A presidential proclamation from September 2025, renewed in September 2026, requires a $100,000 payment for certain new H-1B petitions for people outside the U.S.
- In June 2026 a federal court vacated how the government applied the fee, and the case is still in court. Things may change at any time: check USCIS or an attorney before counting on it.
Length of stay and family
- 3 years, renewable up to 6. H-1B lets you pursue a green card at the same time.
- Spouse and children come on H-4. The spouse may work only in some cases (for example, after the H-1B holder's I-140 is approved).
Official links
ℹ️ Immigration rules change often. Confirm on the official links or with an immigration attorney before making decisions.
Information checked on Nov 11, 2026.