Advance your career with an H-1B visa
The H-1B visa lets professionals with a degree work in specialty occupations for U.S. employers. This employer-sponsored status provides a three-year work permit, with a possible extension to six years. For many in Austin's tech, engineering, and finance sectors, it represents the primary route to legal employment and career growth in the United States.
A significant benefit is dual intent, which lets you seek permanent residence while you hold H-1B status. This feature allows you to establish a long-term career path with a U.S. company. While the new H-1B fee rule has added some complexity to the process, the visa remains a powerful option for qualified professionals who want to advance their careers.
Check your H-1B eligibility
You may qualify for the H-1B visa if you meet several key requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in a field directly related to your proposed job.
- Have a job offer from a U.S. employer for a role considered a specialty occupation.
- Your job must require specialized knowledge, like roles for engineers, analysts, or researchers.
- Your employer must sponsor your petition and get an approved Labor Condition Application (LCA).
- Be selected in the annual lottery, unless your employer is cap-exempt (e.g., a university).
A faster path to your H-1B approval
Lighthouse combines technology and legal expertise to prepare your petition in weeks, not months. An H-1B visa lawyer manages every detail, from the LCA to USCIS submission, so you can focus on your work.
A clear path forward
Our platform helps you explore your visa options. It walks you through each requirement and shows how to strengthen your case. Submit your information via a simple form, and we will follow up with guidance on potential paths forward.
Dedicated legal guidance
Every petition gets a thorough review from experienced H-1B attorneys. We help you navigate complex situations like job changes or amendments, strengthen your case, and ensure your application avoids pitfalls that cause delays or denials. You have legal expertise to support you from start to finish.
Full process visibility
You always know your petition's status. Our platform shows your progress, what we need from you, and what to expect next. With clear timelines and a view of all deadlines, you can plan with confidence and remove the application guesswork.
Expertise for skilled professionals
We support professionals in technology, engineering, and research for their H-1B petitions. Our team understands the specific requirements for software engineers, data scientists, and other specialty occupations, and prepares a strong case based on this expertise.
Direct petition preparation
Our platform simplifies your entire petition process. Upload critical information, communicate with your case team, and review documents personalized for you. You can edit and sign all materials inside one central, protected system before you approve the final submission to the government.
Get our complete H-1B visa guide
Read our guide to understand the H-1B visa process from initial eligibility to final approval, including:
- Step-by-step application process
- H-4 visas for dependents
- Change jobs with H-1B portability
- Timelines and associated costs
- The 2026 H-1B Fee Rule
Frequently asked questions
Each March, USCIS accepts H-1B registrations for a random lottery to select 85,000 petitions: 65,000 for the general cap and 20,000 for U.S. master's degree holders. If selected, your employer files the full petition. Some Austin employers, like universities and nonprofit research groups, are cap-exempt and can sponsor H-1B professionals anytime without the lottery.
To qualify, you must hold a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its foreign equivalent in a specific field. Your job must be a “specialty occupation,” which means it requires theoretical and practical application of a body of specialized knowledge. The role must demand a degree in your specific field for entry into the occupation.
Your employer acts as the petitioner and must file the H-1B petition on your behalf. They must demonstrate the job qualifies as a specialty occupation and that they will pay you the required wage. The law mandates that your employer pays all government and legal fees for the petition; you cannot legally pay these costs.
The process starts with the lottery registration in March. If selected, employers can file petitions from April 1. Standard approvals can take several months. If your petition receives approval, you can start work on October 1. An optional premium process service shortens the government review time to 15 days, but the October 1 start date remains.
H-1B portability lets you move to a new employer. Your new company must file a fresh H-1B petition for you. You do not need to wait for the final approval to make the switch. Once USCIS accepts the case and issues a receipt notice, you can begin work at the new job.
A recent presidential proclamation introduced a new fee for some H-1B petitions. This fee applies only to petitions for workers who are outside the United States and do not already hold a valid H-1B visa. If you are in the U.S. and your employer files for a status change or an extension, you are exempt.
Start your H-1B petition with Lighthouse
With Lighthouse, you get clear guidance on your options and an expert H-1B visa lawyer to manage your case from preparation through USCIS submission.