Lighthouse combines a platform with legal expertise provided by licensed, independent H-1B attorneys to help you navigate the process with clarity and confidence.
The H-1B visa offers a path for professionals with a bachelor's degree or higher to work in U.S. specialty occupations. Through an employer's sponsorship, you receive work authorization for three years, extendable to six. This status serves experts in fields like technology, engineering, and finance who want to work for American companies.
A key advantage is dual intent, which lets you pursue permanent residence while you work. This keeps long-term immigration options open. While the new H-1B fee rule has added some complexity to the process, the visa remains a strong choice for career advancement.
You may be eligible for an H-1B visa if you meet the following core requirements:
Lighthouse combines legal expertise with purpose-built technology to prepare your H-1B petition in weeks, not months. We handle every detail from evaluation to USCIS submission, so you can focus on your career.
Our platform is the first step to explore your visa options. It walks you through each requirement and shows how to make your case stronger. Submit your information via a simple form, and we will provide guidance on potential paths.
Experienced H-1B attorneys review your petition to ensure it meets all USCIS standards. An expert H-1B visa lawyer helps strengthen your case, provides guidance on complex situations, and works to minimize the risk of delays or denials. You have legal expertise for your case from start to finish.
You always know where your petition stands. Our platform shows your case status, required documents, and future deadlines at a glance. With clear timelines and explanations for each step, you can plan ahead with confidence and without any surprises.
Lighthouse specializes in H-1B petitions for professionals in technology, engineering, and research. We understand the specific needs of software engineers, data scientists, and researchers, and the qualifications required for these specialty occupation roles in advanced technical fields.
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Understand the full H-1B visa process, from eligibility requirements to final approval, with our in-depth resource, including:
Each March, USCIS accepts registrations for its annual H-1B lottery. The agency then selects 85,000 petitions to meet the cap. However, some employers like universities and nonprofit research groups are cap-exempt. They can sponsor professionals for H-1B status at any time, which creates more opportunities outside the lottery system in Brooklyn.
For an H-1B, you generally need a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in a specific field. The job itself must be a specialty occupation, which means it requires that particular degree to perform its duties. Your professional role in Brooklyn must directly connect to your field of study for you to be eligible.
Your employer must sponsor you and file the H-1B petition with the government. They have to prove the job qualifies as a specialty occupation. Federal law requires the employer to pay all mandatory government and legal fees for the petition. You, the employee, should not cover these specific costs for the H-1B application.
The H-1B timeline can vary. Lottery registration occurs in March. If selected, your employer files a petition after April 1. Standard government review takes several months, but premium service provides a decision in 15 days. For cap-subject petitions, your work authorization and start date would typically be October 1 or later.
H-1B portability allows you to change employers. Your new company must file a new H-1B petition on your behalf. As soon as USCIS accepts the petition and issues a receipt notice, you can start work at the new job. You do not need to wait for the final approval before you make the move.
In September 2025, a presidential proclamation introduced a $100,000 fee for certain new H-1B petitions. This fee applies only to petitions for workers outside the United States who 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 extension, you are exempt.
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With Lighthouse, you get clarity on your immigration options and a legal team led by an H-1B visa lawyer to carry your case through USCIS submission.
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