The H-1B Visa

The H-1B visa (commonly known as a U.S. work visa) allows American employers to hire highly-skilled professionals that many say they can’t find here by temporarily employing foreign workers in occupations that require highly specialized knowledge — workers who have a bachelor’s degree or higher in their specific specialty, or its equivalent.

Each year, the USCIS allows a total of 65,000 H-1B visas, plus an additional 20,000 specifically for those with a master’s degree or higher. In addition, 6,800 visas are reserved for applicants from Chile and Singapore, leaving 58,200 available for the general pool.

In recent years, the H-1B visa process has changed dramatically: Registrants submit a