Advance your career with the H-1B visa
The H-1B visa allows professionals with specialized degrees to work for U.S. employers in Schaumburg. This employer-sponsored status provides a three-year work permit, with an extension possible for up to six years. It opens doors in fields like technology, engineering, research, and finance for individuals who hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
A key benefit is dual intent, which lets you pursue permanent residence while you work. This feature helps you build a career in the U.S. and keep long-term immigration options open. While the new H-1B fee rule has added some complexity to the process, the visa remains a valuable path for professionals.
Check your H-1B eligibility
You may be eligible for an H-1B visa if you meet the following core 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, a role that requires a degree.
- Work with an employer who will sponsor your petition and get a certified Labor Condition Application (LCA).
- Understand that most petitions are subject to the annual lottery, unless your employer is a cap-exempt organization.
How we accelerate your H-1B petition
Lighthouse combines legal expertise with purpose-built technology to prepare your H-1B petition in weeks. We handle every detail, from the Labor Condition Application to USCIS submission, so you can focus on your work.
A clear path forward
Our platform helps you explore your visa options. Submit your information through a simple form, and we will follow up with guidance. The process walks you through each requirement and shows you how to build a stronger case.
Expert attorney review
Your petition receives review from experienced H-1B attorneys who know USCIS requirements. They catch potential issues, strengthen weak points, and ensure your application meets every standard. You have legal expertise for guidance on complex situations throughout the process.
Clarity at every step
You always know your petition's status. Our platform shows your progress, outstanding requirements, and upcoming deadlines. We provide clear timelines and explain what happens next at each stage. This transparency helps you plan with confidence and reduces uncertainty.
Expertise for skilled professionals
We focus on H-1B petitions for professionals in technology, engineering, and advanced research fields. Our team understands the unique requirements of software engineers, data scientists, and researchers, and prepares petitions that reflect the complexity of these specialty occupations.
A simpler path to your petition
Our platform simplifies the entire petition process. You upload critical information to a secure digital system and communicate with your case team in one central place. Edit and sign documents personalized for your petition, then review the final application before submission.
Get our complete H-1B visa guide
Read our guide for a full breakdown of the H-1B process, from requirements to approval, including:
- Step-by-step application process
- H-4 visas for dependents
- H-1B portability and job changes
- Timeline and cost breakdown
- 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. If selected, your employer files your petition. Some employers, like universities, are cap-exempt and can sponsor H-1B workers outside this lottery system.
To qualify, you must have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent, or a license in your specialty field. The job itself must be a "specialty occupation," which means it requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge. Your degree must be relevant to the position you seek.
A recent presidential 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. for a status change or extension, you are exempt.
The process starts with lottery registration in March. If selected, your employer can file the full petition from April 1. Standard review takes several months, but premium service can shorten this to 15 days. If approved, you can start work on October 1, the first day of the new fiscal year.
You can change jobs thanks to H-1B portability. Your new employer, often with guidance from an H-1B immigration lawyer, files a new petition for you. Once USCIS issues a receipt notice, you can start work at the new company. This feature allows you to pursue new opportunities without a gap in employment.
Yes, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can get H-4 visas to accompany you. An H-4 spouse may apply for work authorization, but only if you, the H-1B holder, have an approved I-140 immigrant petition. This allows them to work for any employer in the U.S. without restriction.
Start your H-1B application with Lighthouse
With Lighthouse, you get clarity on your visa options and a legal team, including an expert H-1B immigration lawyer, that carries your case through USCIS submission.