The short answer
H-1B is for jobs that need a specialized bachelor's degree or higher, in a specific field. You need a U.S. employer to sponsor you, and you must have the degree or equal experience for that job.
What to know
- The job must be a “specialty occupation”: it normally requires a degree in a related field.
- You need the degree (or an accepted equal) and any required license.
- The employer files a petition and pays the required wage, and a wage-approved form (called an LCA) is part of it.
- Most new cases are limited by a yearly cap and chosen by a lottery. Some employers are cap-exempt.
- You cannot sponsor yourself for H-1B.
For the exact rules, forms and fees, see USCIS.
Visa Status is an unofficial site. This is general information in plain words, not legal advice. Rules, fees and forms change, so check the official website and your own papers. Written October 2026.