Practice Area
H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa
Work in the U.S. in a professional specialty occupation.
The H-1B visa allows U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations requiring a bachelor's degree or equivalent. With an annual cap and lottery system, strategic planning is essential. BBA Immigration helps employers and employees navigate this competitive process.
The lottery is not the only way into H-1B status. Cap-exempt employers and transfers from an existing H-1B both sit outside it — worth knowing before you plan around a single March deadline.
H-1B Requirements
To qualify for an H-1B visa, the position must be a specialty occupation that requires:
The H-1B Lottery & Timeline
Each year, only about 65,000 regular H-1B visas are available, with an additional 20,000 for those with U.S. master's degrees or higher. Because demand far exceeds supply, USCIS conducts a lottery: • Registration opens in early March each year • Lottery selections are announced in late March • Selected petitions must be filed by June 30 • Employment can begin October 1 BBA Immigration handles the registration, petition preparation, and filing to maximize your chances.
Beyond the Cap
Some H-1B petitions are exempt from the annual cap: