Things to Consider When Applying for the US H1B (Skilled Worker) Visa

The US H1B visa is a temporary work visa that allows employers operating in the United States to hire highly skilled foreign workers for specialized positions. The H-1B visa is also called a skilled worker and professional occupation visa.

People who want to get a US H-1B visa must first be hired by an employer in the US and the work permit application must be initiated in the US under the sponsorship of the employer.

Basic information about the H1B visa and the points you should pay attention to during the application process are shared under the following headings.

What is the H-1B Annual Visa Quota?


The H-1B visa quota is set at 65,000 new visas per fiscal year, with an exception of 20,000 applicants who will pursue a master’s degree or higher at an institution of higher education in the United States. The H-1B quota does not apply to individuals sponsored by an institution of higher education, a nonprofit organization affiliated with an institution of higher education, or a government research initiative.

USA H-1B Visa 2024 Lottery Dates

Applications for the US H-1B visa in 2024 will be accepted by USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) starting March 1, 2024 for the 2025 fiscal year, which begins October 1, 2024. After the application, USCIS will randomly select 85,000 people from the applications through a lottery draw.

Professions That Can Get an H1B Visa in the USA

The areas of expertise that can be temporarily worked in the United States under the H-1B visa include information technologies, architecture, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, social sciences, medicine and health, education, management, accounting, law, theology, art and professional modeling.

Application Criteria for a Skilled Worker Visa in the USA

Application criteria for the US skilled worker visa are listed below.

  • You must be a university graduate with at least a bachelor’s degree.
  • You must have further education or professional skills.
  • You must be employed by a US employer.
  • The specialized position for which you will be employed must not be filled by a U.S. citizen.

How to Get a USA H1B Visa?

The procedures to be completed by the employer and employee to obtain a US H1B qualified worker visa are listed below.

  • The sponsoring employer files an LCA with the U.S. Department of Labor.
  • The employer files a Form I-129 application with USCIS for approval.
  • The visa applicant completes the online DS-160 application form.
  • Necessary documents for the US H1B visa are prepared.
  • Visa fee is paid and an appointment is made at the US Consulate.
  • The application is completed by completing the visa interview and fingerprint procedures at the appointment.

US Employment Application (LCA) Process

The Labor Condition Application (LCA) is a process in which an employer in the United States declares to the Department of Labor (DOL) that they will employ foreign qualified employees. An employer who applies for an LCA guarantees that they meet the criteria determined by the U.S. Department of Labor and that they will provide the foreign employee with equal wages and working conditions as other employees.

If the LCA application is approved, the employer can continue the process by applying through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Employer USCIS Application and Form I-129 Approval Process

Employers who receive the American LCA certificate must apply to the USCIS office with a petition for a nonimmigrant work visa and receive approval for a temporary work permit. The USCIS application can be made up to 6 months before your employment start date in the United States.

In this process, called “Nonimmigrant worker petition”, the employer fills out the US I-129 form and applies to USCIS with documents showing that the foreign worker meets the employment requirements. The employer, who receives approval from USCIS, must send the original US I-129 form to the visa applicant employee.

America DS-160 Visa Form Filling Process

If you have received a temporary work permit approval (I-129) from the United States, you must first fill out the DS-160 visa form via ceac.state.gov for your H1B visa application. Make sure that you have selected the “Speciality Occupation (H1B)” option in the travel purpose section of the DS-160 form and that you have entered the I-129 form receipt number in the “Application Receipt/Petition Number” field without any errors.

The visual of the relevant screen is as follows.

The rest of the form requires complete information such as work dates, accommodation information, and how travel expenses are covered. After completing the online application form for the H1B visa, you must upload your digital biometric photo to the application system. In the final stage, create a barcoded DS-160 approval page and print it out to take to the visa interview.

Preparation of Required Documents for the US H-1B Visa

The documents you need to submit at the visa interview to obtain a US H1B visa are listed below.

  • Current passport
  • Biometric photo
  • Turkish ID card
  • US I-129 form
  • Visa application form approval printout
  • Supporting visa documents*
  • Appointment confirmation email printout
  • Your old passport and US visas, if any

* In US H-1B visa applications, additional documents are requested to prove the applicant’s professional qualifications, financial situation and return to their home country at the end of the visa period. You can access the comprehensive and explanatory list of documents by selecting temporary work visa and H1B from the US visa application documents page.

US Skilled Worker Visa Fee Payment and Appointment

The 2023 US Skilled Worker (H1B) visa application fee is $190. The application fee is paid before making a visa appointment at usvisa-info.com. After the fee payment is completed, an online appointment must be made at the US Embassy in Ankara or the Consulate General in Istanbul using the receipt number on the I-129 form.

As of January 2023, the estimated appointment waiting time for US H1B visa applications is an average of 70 days at the Ankara Embassy and 205 days at the Istanbul Consulate General.

US Consulate H1B Visa Interview

In order to complete your US H1B qualified worker visa application, you must attend a visa interview at the US Consulate where you made an appointment. On your appointment date, go to the consulate in person, submit the prepared visa application file, provide your digital fingerprint record, and have your visa interview with the consulate officer.

At the end of the interview, the applicant is informed whether or not the visa application has been approved. After the H1B visa applications have been approved, passport tracking can be done at https://ceac.state.gov. The time it takes to receive the passport varies depending on the workload of the Consulate where the visa application was made.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most frequently asked questions about US H-1B visas are answered below.

How Many Years Does the US H-1B Visa Take to Grant?

The US H-1B visa is initially issued for 3 years and can be extended for another 3 years. With the H-1B visa, a person can stay and work in the US for a maximum of 6 years in total. However, since this visa is a dual-purpose visa, the person may not be required to return to their home country.

Dual-purpose visas allow holders to apply for an immigrant visa with a change of status. After 6 years, those who qualify can apply for an employment-based U.S. green card if they also have a valid job offer .

How to Extend a Professional Visa in the USA?

The US professional visa extension process is similar to the initial application process. You must pay the same fee for the extension and your employer must follow the same procedures as the application.

How to Get a US Visa for Spouse and Children of an H1B Visa Holder?

The spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 of an H1B visa holder may be admitted to the H-4 nonimmigrant visa classification.

Spouses and children under the age of 21 are eligible to accompany H1B visa holders if they are granted an H4 visa . Since 2015, H4 visa holders are also eligible to work under the H4 EAD program under certain conditions; H-4 visa holders are also allowed to study in the country.