H-1B Specialty Occupation Visas: The Basics

The H-1B allows U.S. employers to sponsor foreign professionals for positions that require at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field — engineering, technology, finance, healthcare, and many other specialty occupations.

Because H-1B visas are subject to an annual numerical cap, most new petitions go through a registration and lottery process each spring, which means timing is often as important as qualification.

For companies planning to hire or transfer talent, the practical question isn't just whether a candidate qualifies — it's when to file, how the role should be described, and what backup strategy exists if the lottery doesn't select the case.