Advance your career with an H-1B visa
The H-1B visa allows professionals with a degree to work in U.S. specialty occupations. This employer-sponsored status provides a three-year work permit, extendable to six years. Professionals in Baltimore's technology, healthcare, and finance sectors use this visa to work legally for top American companies.
A key benefit is dual intent, which lets you pursue a green card while you work. This keeps long-term residence options open. While the new H-1B fee rule has added some complexity to the process, the pathway remains a viable option for skilled professionals.
Check your H-1B eligibility
You may qualify for the H-1B visa if you meet the following general 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 specialty occupation, such as an engineer, analyst, or researcher.
- Work for an employer who will file your H-1B petition and get an approved Labor Condition Application (LCA).
- Are selected in the annual H-1B lottery, unless your employer is cap-exempt, like a university or research organization.
How we accelerate your H-1B petition
Lighthouse combines purpose-built technology with legal expertise to prepare your H-1B petition in weeks. An expert H-1B visa lawyer manages the process, from the Labor Condition Application to the final USCIS submission.
Your visa roadmap
Our platform helps you explore visa options. It provides a clear guide to the requirements and shows how to strengthen your case. Submit your information through a simple form, and we will follow up with potential paths forward.
Expert legal review
Experienced H-1B attorneys review your petition to minimize delays or RFEs. We ensure your application meets all USCIS standards and provide guidance on complex situations like job changes or amendments. You have access to legal expertise to support your case from start to finish.
Full process transparency
You always know where your petition stands. Our platform shows your status, what we need from you, and all upcoming deadlines. This transparency creates clear timelines and removes uncertainty, so you can plan ahead with confidence.
A focus on technical roles
We specialize in H-1B petitions for professionals in technology, engineering, and research. Our team understands the distinct requirements for software engineers, data scientists, and other specialty roles, and prepares petitions that reflect your specific expertise and qualifications.
Manage your H-1B case online
Our platform streamlines your visa preparation from start to finish. Upload critical files through our digital system. Communicate with your case team, review personalized documents, and then edit and sign everything in one central place. You get a final review before the application goes to the government.
Get our complete H-1B visa guide
Read our guide to learn about the entire H-1B process, from eligibility to final approval, including:
- Step-by-step application process
- H-4 visas for dependents
- Change jobs with H-1B portability
- Complete timelines and costs
- The 2026 H-1B Fee Rule
Frequently asked questions
Each March, USCIS holds a lottery for 85,000 H-1B slots. If selected, your employer files a full petition. However, many Baltimore institutions like universities and nonprofit research centers are "cap-exempt." They can sponsor H-1B professionals at any time of the year, completely outside of this lottery system, which offers a great alternative path.
You generally need a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a field related to your job offer. The position itself must be a "specialty occupation," which means it requires theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge. Your background and the job must align for a successful petition.
Your employer must file the H-1B petition on your behalf and prove the job qualifies. By law, the employer must pay all government application fees and any costs for an H-1B visa attorney. You are only permitted to pay for optional services, like premium processing, if the request is for your own benefit.
You can change jobs thanks to H-1B "portability." Your new employer files a new H-1B petition for you. Once USCIS receives this "transfer" petition and issues a receipt notice, you can start your new role. This feature gives you the freedom to pursue better opportunities without a long wait for approval.
Yes, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can get H-4 status. If you have an approved I-140 immigrant petition, which is a key step toward a green card, your spouse may apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). This document allows them to work for any employer in the U.S.
A presidential proclamation introduced a $100,000 fee for certain new H-1B petitions. This fee applies only to petitions filed 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. Read more about the proclamation on H-1B fees.
Start your H-1B journey with Lighthouse
With Lighthouse, you get clear guidance on your options and a legal team that manages your case from preparation through USCIS submission.