Advance your career with an H-1B visa
The H-1B visa lets professionals with a bachelor's degree or higher work in specialty occupations across the United States. This employer-sponsored status provides a three-year work authorization, with an extension possible for up to six years. Professionals in Naperville use this pathway to accept roles in fields like technology, finance, and healthcare with U.S. companies.
A significant benefit is dual intent, which means you can pursue a green card while you hold H-1B status. This feature lets you build a long-term career in the U.S. While the new H-1B fee rule has added some complexity to the process, the visa remains a powerful way for skilled individuals to advance their careers.
Check your H-1B eligibility
You may be eligible for an H-1B visa if you and your prospective employer meet several key requirements:
- Hold at least a bachelor's degree (or its foreign equivalent) in a field directly related to your job.
- Have a job offer from a U.S. employer for a specialty occupation—a role that typically requires a degree.
- Your employer must file the H-1B petition on your behalf and get an approved Labor Condition Application (LCA).
- Be selected in the annual H-1B lottery, unless your employer is a cap-exempt organization like a university.
How we accelerate your H-1B petition
Lighthouse pairs legal expertise with our platform to prepare your H-1B petition in weeks, not months. An H-1B immigration lawyer oversees every detail, from evaluation to USCIS submission, so you can focus on your career.
A clear path forward
Our platform helps you explore your visa options. It walks you through each requirement and shows you how to strengthen your case. Submit a simple form with your information, and we will follow up with guidance on potential paths forward.
Expert legal review
An experienced H-1B visa attorney reviews your petition to ensure it meets all USCIS standards. Our H-1B attorneys spot potential problems, address complex situations like job changes, and help reduce the risk of delays or denials. You get dedicated legal support throughout the entire process.
Clarity at every step
Always know where you stand with your petition. The Lighthouse platform shows your status, future deadlines, and any open requirements. We provide clear timelines and explain what happens next, so you can plan ahead with confidence and less stress.
Designed for specialty occupations
We focus on H-1B petitions for professionals in technology, engineering, and research. Our team understands the unique qualifications and career paths of software engineers, data scientists, and researchers in advanced fields that demand specialized expertise.
Simplify your petition preparation
Our platform centralizes your entire H-1B petition. You can upload critical information to a secure digital system and communicate with your case team from one dashboard. The system lets you review, edit, and sign documents personalized for your specific petition before the final application goes out.
Read our guide to the H-1B visa
Explore the entire H-1B process, from initial eligibility checks to final visa approval, including:
- Step-by-step application process
- H-4 visas for dependents
- Job changes and portability
- Timelines and associated costs
- The 2026 H-1B Fee Rule
Frequently asked questions
Each March, USCIS accepts H-1B registrations for a lottery that selects 85,000 petitions. This includes 65,000 for general applicants and 20,000 for those with a U.S. master's degree or higher. Some employers, like universities or nonprofit research groups, are cap-exempt and can sponsor H-1B workers outside this lottery system at any time.
To qualify, 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 specific degree for someone to perform its duties. In some cases, relevant professional work experience can substitute for the formal education requirement.
Your employer must sponsor you and file the H-1B petition on your behalf. The law requires employers to pay all mandatory government and legal fees for the petition. As the employee, you cannot pay for these costs. An experienced H-1B visa attorney can help your employer understand all its financial responsibilities.
The process follows a strict calendar. H-1B registration happens in early March. If selected, your employer can file the full petition from April 1. Approval can take several months. If your petition receives approval, your H-1B status and work authorization begin on October 1 of the same year.
You can switch employers through a process called H-1B portability. Your new employer files a new petition for you. Once USCIS receives it, you can start the new job. Your spouse and children on H-4 visas have their status tied to yours, so their status transfers with you to the new employer.
A recent presidential proclamation introduced a significant fee for some new 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., you are exempt from this fee. Read more about the H-1B fee proclamation.
Start your H-1B journey with Lighthouse
Get clarity on your immigration options and a legal team that will carry your case from preparation through USCIS submission.