Your Immigration Link to the World

An H-1B, professional, visa may be issued to an alien who is coming temporarily to the United States to perform services in a specialty or professional occupation.

The applicant for an H-1B visa must first receive an offer of employment from a US company. The company must file the I-129 petition, with H supplement, I-129W, and an approved labor condition application with the Immigration & Naturalization Service office having jurisdiction over the place where the alien will be employed.

Please read the instructions, attached to the petition, carefully to determine who can file the petition and what documents will be needed to establish the qualifications for obtaining an approval of an H-1B petition or change of status.

Note: Whenever you mail any forms or documents to the immigration service, you should always do so by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by some form of express mail for which you can obtain proof of receipt. This is very important in the event immigration loses your application. In that event you can submit your proof of receipt, with evidence of payment, and you can establish that you did not violate your status in the United States.

Once the petition is approved, the alien will be sent immigration form I-797 changing the person’s status in the United States and extending the authorized stay for three years, or for the time requested on the petition if less than three years. Each accompanying family member who filed an I-539 application will also be granted the change of status (as an H-4) for the same period as the principal applicant.

If the alien is outside of the United States, the approved petition (form I-797) will be forwarded to the US consul where the alien will apply for his or her visa. Form DS-156 must be completed and presented in person at the consulate, together with documentation that will clearly establish eligibility for the visa. A separate form DS-156 should be completed for each accompanying family member. The H-1B visa will be issued for a period of three years. The spouse and children of the principal applicant will receive H-4 visas for the same period of time. An H-1B or H-4 visa holder, when entering the United States, will be given a period of stay coinciding with the time remaining on the visa.

If the alien desires an extension of stay, he or she would file a request for an extension with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which extension will be granted for three years. A maximum of six years is permitted on an H-1B visa. Once an extension is granted, the alien can obtain revalidation of the H visa through the US State Department, rather than having to return to the consul to obtain a new visa. The dependents of an H alien are not permitted to work in the United States, unless they also qualify and apply for their own H-1B status.

USCIS List of Recognized Professions:

1. Accountant
2. Actor
3. Acupuncturist
4. Administrative Assistant
5. Administrative Executive
6. Agriculturist
7. Agronomist
8. Analyst, Computer Systems
9. Analyst, Marketing
10. Analyst, Program
11. Analyst, Senior Program
12. Analyst, Systems
13. Animal Husbandry
14. Animal Scientist
15. Apiculturalist
16. Architect
17. Architect, Computer Systems
18. Analyst Architect, Landscape
19. Architectural Cost Estimator Artists
20. Artist, Graphic
21. Asian Market Research
22. Analyst Astronomer
23. Athletes
24. Athletes, Golf
25. Attorney
26. Attorney, Corporate
27. Attorney, Patent
28. Biochemist
29. Biologist
30. Business Administrator
31. Business Manager
32. Business person
33. Cartoonist
34. Chef
35. Chemist
36. Chemist, Organic
37. Chief Executive Officer
38. Chiropractor
39. Claims Adjuster
40. Clinical Psychologist
41. Computer Programmer
42. Computer Programmer, Chief
43. Conservator, Assistant Paper
44. Consultant, Engineering
45. Consultant, International Trade
46. Consultant, Management
47. Contract Specialist
48. Cook
49. Dairy Scientist
50. Database Administrator
51. Dentist
52. Designer, Fashion
53. Designer, Graphic
54. Designer, Industrial
55. Designer, Interior
56. Dietitian
57. Director of Program Development
58. Director, Creative Advertisement
59. Director, Marketing
60. Director, Research and Development
61. Director, Technical
62. Disaster Relief Claims Adjuster
63. Doctor, Medical
64. Economic Analyst
65. Economist
66. Economist, Financial
67. Engineer
68. Engineer, Ceramic
69. Engineer, Consultant
70. Engineer, Electrical Design
71. Engineer, Mechanical
72. Engineer, Roll Designer
73. Engineer, Sales
74. Engineer, Software
75. Engineer, Systems
76. Engineering Technician, Fire Protection
77. Entertainers
78. Entomologist
79. Epidemiologist
80. Executives
81. Fashion Designer
82. Forester
83. Gambler
84. Geneticist
85. Geochemist
86. Geologist
87. Geophysicist
88. Golf Pro
89. Graphic Artist
90. Graphic Designer
91. Horticulturist
92. International Trade Economist
93. Intracompany Transferee
94. Investor
95. Journalist
96. Land Surveyor
97. Landscape Architect
98. Lecturer
99. Librarian
100. Librarian, Medical Record
101. Management Consultant
102. Manager
103. Manager, Business
104. Manager, Casino Pit
105. Manager, Hotel
106. Manager, Marketing Assistant
107. Manager, Restaurant
108. Manager, Software
109. Market Research Analyst
110. Marketing Analyst
111. Marketing Director
112. Marketing Specialist
113. Marketing Senior Specialist
114. Mathematician
115. Medical Doctor
116. Medical Laboratory Technologist
117. Medical Professionals
118. Medical Record Librarian
119. Medical Researcher
120. Medical Technologist
121. Meteorologist
122. Minister
123. Model
124. Network Chief
125. Nurse
126. Nutritionist
127. Orthopedist
128. Pathologist
129. Pharmacologist
130. Physician
131. Physician, Teaching/Research
132. Physicist
133. Physio/ Physical Therapist
134. Plant Breeder
135. President
136. President, Corporate
137. President, Messenger Service
138. President, Real Estate
139. Professors
140. Program Analyst, Senior
141. Programmer
142. Programmer, Computer
143. Programmer, Engineering and Scientific
144. Programmer, Systems
145. Psychologist, Clinical
146. Puppeteer
147. Range Manager
148. Recreational Therapist
149. Religious Workers
150. Research Analyst
151. Research Assistant
152. Researchers
153. Sales Engineer
154. Scientific Technician/Technologist
155. Scientist
156. Scientist, Dairy
157. Scientist, Poultry
158. Scientist, Sod
159. Senior Program Analyst
160. Singer
161. Social Worker
162. Specialist, Senior Marketing
163. Superintendent, Reefer Operations
164. Surgeons
165. Surgical Assistant
166. Sylviculturist
167. Teacher
168. Teacher, College
169. Teacher, Music
170. Teacher, Seminary
171. Teacher, University
172. Technical Director (mftg)
173. Technical Publications Writer
174. Technician
175. Technician, Fire Protection
176. Technologist Medical
177. Therapist, Corrective
178. Therapist, Occupational
179. Therapist, Physio/Physical
180. Therapist Recreational
181. Translator
182. Urban Planner
183. Venture Capitalist
184. Veterinarian
185. Vice President
186. Vice President, Intl. Operations
187. Vice President, Manufacturing
188. Violin Maker
189. Vocational Counselor
190. Writer, Technical Publications
191. Zoologist