Who qualifies for the H1-B specialty visa and how to apply for it

Nashville, as well as the United States as a whole, attracts many talented individuals who aspire to strike it big and get their very own taste of the American dream. For those fortunate enough to be uniquely skilled in an in-demand field or who have become well-reknowned for their accomplishments in a particular area of inquiry, they may qualify for a H1-B visa.

In order to qualify for an H1-B Specialty visa, it’s necessary for a U.S. employer to sponsor you. It’s generally required that the applicant for this type visa possess a bachelor’s degree at a bare minimum.

The type of degree the sponsored individual must possess should also be appropriate for the complexity of the work that the individual will be handling in the course of their employment. The applicant’s degree should also be aligned with the degree any other domestic worker in the same position would be expected to have.

Job offers that are extended to prospective H1-B visa applicants can only be accepted if that individual meets certain qualifying criteria.First, that individual must be able to show proof that he or she has completed the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher level one. It must have been awarded by an accredited university and it must be in a specialty area consistent with their selected field of employment.

Additionally, you’re required to either obtain or already possess any necessary state-specific license, certification or registration to lawfully practice your profession in your local jurisdiction. Finally, you must be able to demonstrate that you’ve held jobs in your specialty area of increasing responsibility or have achieved recognition for your expertise within it.

If you meet these criteria, then you may be eligible to qualify to apply for the H1-B visa. One of the first steps in the application process for this visa is to have your prospective employer complete and file a non-immigrant Worker Petition, also known as Form I-129. The employer should fill out a Labor Condition Application, form ETA-9035, as well.

In addition to the Specialty class of the H1-B visa, there are other subcategory types which are reserved for prospective Development Project Workers, Department of Defense Researchers and Fashion Models. If you are looking for guidance as you go prepare to apply for the H1-B visa, then a Nashville employment immigration attorney can assist you.

Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, “H-1B specialty occupations, DOD cooperative research and development project workers, and fashion models,” accessed Sep. 08, 2017