The H-1B visa process is initiated by the employer of the future H1B visa holder, who will have to file for a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor (except for future H-1B engaging work for Department of Defense), before applying for the H1B Visa on behalf of the future employee.
In order to obtain this Labor Condition Application, the employer must prove that the future employee will be paid no less than the wage paid to similarly qualified workers, and that this employee will be provided working conditions that will not adversely affect other similarly employed workers.
Thereafter, the employer will file a petition for nonimmigrant worker with USCIS, along with evidence that the H1B visa applicant and the job offer meet the requirements of a specialty occupation.
The H1B visa has an annual numerical limit, or cap, of 65,000 visas each fiscal year and an additional 20,000 petitions filed on behalf of beneficiaries with a U.S. master’s degree or higher, which means that not all petitions filed with USCIS will be granted.
Exception: the cap and the application date do not apply to foreign nationals sponsored by educational institutions, nonprofit research organization, or by a government research organization, who can file the H1B visa petition at any time of the year regardless of the starting date and without cap limitations.
The application start date is usually April 1st of a given fiscal year, for a work start date of no earlier than October 1st of that same year.
Along with the visa availability, the other frequent challenge encountered with this status is that the spouse of the H1B visa holder, under H4 Visa, cannot obtain work authorization (with the exception of the spouses of the H1B visa holders who have had a pending application for permanent residency for a certain period of time).
The number of submitted H1B visa petitions increases each year, without foreseen change of the cap policy. Thus, we strongly recommend that you prepare your file with an immigration attorney prior to the application starting date in order to be along the first ones to be received by the Immigration Services.