Advance your career with an H-1B visa
The H-1B visa lets professionals with a degree accept specialty occupation roles in New York. This employer-sponsored path gives you work authorization for three years, and you can extend it to six. It creates opportunities for experts in technology, finance, and healthcare to apply their skills at premier U.S. companies.
The visa's dual intent is a significant advantage; you can pursue a green card while you hold H-1B status. This feature supports a long-term career path in the United States. While the new H-1B fee rule has added some complexity to the process, the H-1B remains a strong option for professionals.
Check your H-1B eligibility
You may be eligible for an H-1B visa if you meet several key requirements, including:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in a field that is directly related to your prospective job.
- Have a job offer from a U.S. employer for a specialty occupation, which is a role requiring a degree.
- Work for an employer who will sponsor your petition and get an approved Labor Condition Application (LCA).
- Understand that most petitions are subject to the annual lottery, unless your employer is cap-exempt, like a university.
A smarter way to prepare your H-1B petition
Lighthouse combines legal expertise with technology to prepare your H-1B petition. An expert H-1B lawyer handles every detail, from evaluation 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 the requirements and shows how to build a stronger case. Submit your information through a simple form, and we will follow up with clear next steps for your case.
Expert attorney review
Experienced H-1B attorneys review every petition to ensure it meets all USCIS standards. Our legal experts identify potential problems, reduce the risk of delays or RFEs, and provide guidance on complex cases. You get access to dedicated legal support throughout the entire H-1B process.
Full application visibility
Always know where your application stands. Our platform shows your petition status, what we need from you, and what comes next. With clear timelines and a view of all requirements, you can plan ahead without the guesswork or uncertainty.
A focus on skilled professionals
Lighthouse works with professionals in technology, engineering, and research. Our team has deep knowledge of the specific needs of software engineers, data scientists, and researchers in other advanced fields. We prepare petitions for complex specialty occupation roles.
Manage your petition in one place
Lighthouse provides a central hub for your visa preparation. Upload critical information through our secure system. Communicate with your case team, review personalized documents, and then edit and sign everything in one place. This gives your legal expert what they need for your application submission.
Get our complete H-1B visa guide
Read our in-depth guide to navigate the H-1B visa process from initial application to final decision, including:
- Step-by-step application process
- H-4 visas for dependents
- Change jobs with H-1B portability
- Timeline and cost breakdown
- The 2026 H-1B Fee Rule
Frequently asked questions
USCIS accepts H-1B registrations each March. A random lottery selects 85,000 petitions from the pool. Some employers, like universities or non-profits, are cap-exempt. They can sponsor H-1B workers at any time outside this lottery system. This provides more opportunities for professionals in specific sectors.
You generally need a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a specific field. The job must be a specialty occupation, which means it requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge. Your role must demand this specific degree for entry into the occupation.
The process has several steps. Registration happens in March, with lottery results shortly after. If selected, your employer files the full petition. Approval can take several months. For most, the earliest start date is October 1 of the same year. Premium process service can speed up the petition review time.
You can move to a new employer through H-1B portability. Your new employer files a new H-1B petition for you. Once USCIS accepts the petition and sends a receipt notice, you can start the new job. This feature gives you the freedom to pursue better career opportunities without a new lottery entry.
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can get H-4 dependent visas. They can attend school in the U.S. In certain situations, after you reach a specific stage in your green card process, your spouse may apply for work authorization. An H-1B immigration attorney can help clarify eligibility for your family.
A recent proclamation introduced a significant fee for some new H-1B petitions. This fee only applies 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., this fee does not apply to you. More details are in this presidential proclamation.
Begin your H-1B application with Lighthouse
Get clear guidance on your immigration options and a legal team with an expert H-1B lawyer to carry your case from preparation through USCIS submission.