How does H-1B work in the United States, and who qualifies?

H-1B is a nonimmigrant classification for jobs that require a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific specialty, such as IT, engineering or finance. You need a US employer to sponsor you, and the role must genuinely qualify as a specialty occupation matched to your degree or its equivalent.

The employer files a Labor Condition Application and then a Form I-129 petition. For cap-subject roles, there is an annual numerical limit, so employers first submit an electronic registration during a set window; if demand exceeds the cap, USCIS runs a random selection — the H-1B lottery — and only selected registrations can file a full petition. Some employers, such as universities and certain non-profits, are cap-exempt and can file outside the lottery.

An H-1B is initially valid for up to three years and can usually be extended to six, and in some cases it can support a later green-card application. Because the cap and lottery make timing uncertain, planning matters. ACME can help you and an employer navigate the steps, and current rules should be confirmed with USCIS.