Nonimmigrant H-1B — Speciality Occupation Verified 2026-04-19USA H-1B Work Visa (Speciality Occupation) — Informational
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, extendable to 6 (more if Green Card is pending)
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.
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
Official forms are hosted by VFS Global — we don't host third-party forms ourselves, so you always get the latest version.
How to download from VFS:
- Click the form name below — opens the official VFS Global page for United States
- Select the visa category you're applying for (e.g. Tourist, Business, Student)
- Scroll down to the "Download Form" section at the bottom
- Click the PDF icon next to the form name → saves to your device
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) — Informational is a free 1-on-1 consultation with our team.
Free · No obligation · Reply in minutesFrequently asked
Questions, answered straight
Employers register in March. USCIS runs a random lottery when registrations exceed the 85,000 cap (usually every year). Selected registrants' employers file full I-129 petitions. Very competitive — ~25-30% selection rate in recent years.
Yes — spouse and children under 21 get H-4 dependent visa. H-4 spouses with EAD can work (recent rule changes frequently — check current status).
Yes — dual intent is allowed on H-1B. Most Indians transition via I-140 petition for EB-2/EB-3 categories. Expect 10-20+ year wait for Indian-born applicants due to per-country Green Card caps.
H-1B is entirely driven by your US employer's legal team. From lottery registration to I-129 petition to PERM/Green Card, the process requires US immigration attorneys, not Indian visa consultants.
US work visas (H-1B, L-1, O-1, etc.) are petition-based — the US employer files I-129 with USCIS, then the applicant applies for the visa stamp. This requires ongoing coordination with US employer's legal team / specialist US immigration attorneys. We specialise in short-stay visit, tourist, business, and student visa interview prep where Indian applicants apply directly.
Still have a question about your case? Ask us directly — we usually reply in 5 minutes.
This page is for information only
SureshotVisa does not process this visa category. For other United States visa types we can help with — Tourist, Visitor, Business, Student, or Family Reunification — see the related visa types below.
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) — Informational
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 — Informational
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 — Informational
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) — Informational
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 — Informational
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.