H-1B - ALIEN IN SPECIALTY OCCUPATION

The H-1B visa is available to aliens with a U.S. Bachelor's degree, a comparable foreign degree or those with the equivalent education and experience. An individual may stay in the United States for a maximum of 6 years in this category. As with the L visa, an H-1B visa holder must leave the United States for 1 year before he or she may be readmitted in H-1B visa status for an additional 6-year period. The H-1B visa is a cumulative visa. In other words, an alien may not change employers and obtain a new 6-year period with each employer.

There is an annual cap of the number of H-1B visas issued. Currently, it is set at 65,000 visas per year.