Lighthouse combines a smart platform with legal expertise from licensed, independent H-1B attorneys to help you navigate the process with clarity and confidence.
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.
You may qualify for the H-1B visa if you meet the following general requirements:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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"Lighthouse is insanely fast. Your new colleague might not even have finished their work trial by the time Lighthouse has already gotten them an O1 visa. Highly recommend working with them!"
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Read our guide to learn about the entire H-1B process, from eligibility to final approval, including:
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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.
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With Lighthouse, you get clear guidance on your options and a legal team that manages your case from preparation through USCIS submission.
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