Nonimmigrant H-1B — Speciality Occupation Verified 2026-04-19USA H-1B Work Visa (Speciality Occupation)
Petition-based work visa for Indian professionals with US job offers in specialty occupations requiring bachelor's+. Annual lottery, 65,000 cap + 20,000 US master's. $205.
No visa is ever guaranteed — the final decision always rests with the United States visa authority. We make sure your file is presented at its strongest.
H-1B requires your US employer's legal team to file the I-129 petition with USCIS, handle the annual lottery, Labor Condition Application (LCA), and manage compliance. SureshotVisa does not process H-1B petitions — consult your US employer's immigration attorney or a specialist US immigration law firm.
Processing
Petition filed with USCIS March-April.…
Stay Duration
Initial 3 years
Starting Fee
$185
Apply At
6 VFS centres
Who Can Apply
- Indian professionals with US job offer in specialty occupation
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent (3-year degree + 3 years work experience also qualifies)
- Job requires at least bachelor's in specific field
- Employer willing to file LCA + I-129 + pay required wage
What it costs
Government & VFS fees
Paid directly to United States / VFS — these are not our service fee, and we never mark them up.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| B-1/B-2 Business/Tourist visa | $185 |
| F-1 / M-1 Student visa | $185 |
| J-1 Exchange Visitor | $185 |
| H/L/O/P/Q Work visas | $205 |
| R-1 Religious Worker visa | $205 |
| C/D Transit/Crewmember visa | $185 |
| I Journalist/Media | $185 |
| K-1 Fiancé(e) | $265 |
| E Treaty Trader/Investor | $315 |
All US nonimmigrant visa (MRV) fees are set in USD by the Department of State and paid online in India via usvisascheduling.com. The INR amount depends on exchange rate on payment day. Additional costs: SEVIS fee for F/M/J visas (paid to ICE separately), VFS document delivery charges, photograph, and any USCIS petition fees (for work visas — usually paid by employer). MRV fees are non-refundable regardless of interview outcome. USCIS petition fees (I-129): base $460 + ACWIA $750-1,500 + Fraud Prevention $500 + Asylum Program $600 + (optional) Premium Processing $2,805 — typically ALL paid by US employer.
Flights · Hotels · Insurance · Itinerary
What United States actually requires — and what it does not.
For a US B1/B2 the consulate does not want your flight or hotel bookings at all — the interview decides it.
0 of 4 are compulsory for United States
Flight reservation
Do not book flights before the interview. The consular officer will not ask for a ticket, and the decision is made in a conversation of a few minutes.
Where people slip: Buying tickets to prove intent. It proves nothing to a US officer and is the most expensive mistake in this whole category.
How to hold a flight without payingHotel booking
No hotel booking is required for the DS-160 or the interview. Where you are staying may be asked verbally; nothing written is collected.
Where people slip: Carrying a folder of bookings to the interview. Officers rarely open documents — 214(b) turns on your answers and your ties.
Refundable hotel booking, explainedTravel insurance
Not a visa requirement. Worth having regardless: US medical costs are the highest in the world, and one hospital night can exceed the cost of the trip.
Where people slip: Assuming an Indian health policy covers you in the United States. Almost none do.
What the cover must actually sayTravel itinerary
Have a clear spoken answer to "why this trip, and when do you return". That is what the interview tests, not a printout.
Where people slip: A rehearsed itinerary that contradicts your own answers about your job, your family or your funds.
The letter your itinerary attaches toWe arrange all four for your United States file.
We are a B2B travel agency as well as a visa consultancy, working with partners including Riya Travel — so the flight, the hotel and the policy all come from us, issued the same day, and you deal with one team instead of four. Every booking is a real one under your own name.
What to gather
Documents required
Having a document isn't the same as presenting it right — that's the part we handle.
Overview — for informational reference only
8 items- I-797 Approval Notice from USCIS (after employer's I-129 approval)Required
- DS-160 + $205 MRV fee receiptRequired
- Original I-129 petition + supporting documentsRequired
- Education credentials + equivalence evaluationRequired
- Experience letters / work historyRequired
- US employer's LCA (Labor Condition Application)Required
- Wage determination evidenceRequired
- Passport valid 6 months beyond stayRequired
Required · optional / if applicable
The journey.
5 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.
- 01
US employer files I-129 with USCIS + LCA with DOL
Annual cap subject applicants enter lottery in March. Cap-exempt (universities, research orgs) can file year-round.
- 02
Receive I-797 Approval Notice
If lottery-selected + petition approved by USCIS. This is your key document.
- 03
Complete DS-160 + pay $205
Standard consular flow.
- 04
Schedule VAC + Consulate interview
Dedicated 'dropbox' option for renewals without interview (meeting criteria).
- 05
Interview at Consulate
Focus on your role, employer, qualifications, and non-immigrant intent (though dual intent allowed for H-1B).
Download official forms
Each link opens the official United States page on VFS Global (we never host third-party forms): pick your visa category there and use its "Download Form" section for the current version.
DS-160 — Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application
Mandatory online form for ALL US nonimmigrant visa applicants. Complete, submit, and print the confirmation page (with barcode) BEFORE booking your appointment.
US Embassy India — Official Visa Information
Official information on US visa services in India — covers all categories, updates, and notices.
USTravelDocs India — Appointment Scheduling & Fees
Where Indian applicants pay MRV fee, schedule VAC (biometrics) + Consulate (interview) appointments, and track passport return.
SEVIS Fee Payment (I-901) — for F/M/J visas
Required for student and exchange visa applicants BEFORE the visa interview. Keep the receipt.
USCIS — Petition-based Work Visa Information
For H-1B, L-1, O-1, etc — the employer files I-129 petition with USCIS first; approval notice (I-797) is required at visa interview.
VFS application centres
Quiz not yet available for this visa type
We're actively building per-visa quizzes. For now, the best way to assess your eligibility for USA H-1B Work Visa (Speciality Occupation) is a 1-on-1 consultation with our team.
Every case here is different
Tell us your situation and we will tell you what can be done.
There is no honest standard answer for United States usa h-1b work visa (speciality occupation) — the route depends on who is sponsoring you, what the employer has already started, and which region is processing it. So rather than publish generic answers that may not fit your case, we would rather read your actual situation. Send us what you have: an offer letter, an email from the employer, or just the facts as they stand. A licensed consultant will tell you straight what is possible, what is not, and what it would take.
Reviewed by Paramjit Singh, SureshotVisa — a government-licensed consultancy (Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024). Verify us.
Other United States Visa Types
USA Tourist Visa (B-2 — Tourism / Visit Family)
Non-immigrant visa for Indian citizens visiting the US for tourism, leisure, medical, or to see family/friends. Typically 10-year multiple-entry. $185.
View guideUSA Business Visa (B-1 — Business Visitor)
Non-immigrant visa for Indian professionals doing business activities in the US — meetings, conferences, negotiations, consulting. $185. Usually combined B-1/B-2.
View guideUSA Student Visa (F-1 — Academic Student)
Full-time study visa for Indian students at US universities/colleges. Requires I-20 from SEVP-certified school + SEVIS fee + funds evidence. $185 visa fee.
View guideUSA Exchange Visitor Visa (J-1)
For participants in State-Department-approved exchange programs — research scholars, interns, trainees, au pairs, summer work travel, physicians. Sponsor-driven.
View guideUSA L-1 Intra-Company Transfer Visa
For Indian managers/executives (L-1A) or specialised-knowledge employees (L-1B) transferring to a US branch/subsidiary of their employer. No annual cap. $205.
View guideUSA O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa
For individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, athletics, or film. Petition-based, no cap. Stringent standards.
View guideUSA P Visa (Athletes, Entertainers, Artists)
For internationally recognised athletes, entertainers, artists, or performers entering the US for specific events/competitions. P-1, P-2, P-3 sub-categories.
View guideUSA Q Cultural Exchange Visa
For participants in international cultural exchange programs providing practical training + cultural sharing with the American public.
View guideSource & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global United States website and Embassy of United States. Last verified 2026-04-19. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.
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