H1B VISA APPLICATION PROCESS

H1B Eligibility:

H1B visa is issued for a specialty occupation including but not limited to the fields of science, technology,
engineering, arts and mathematics, requires a theoretical and practical application of a body of such
specialized knowledge and requires the visa holder to have a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent at a
minimum. H-1B work-authorization is restricted to employment by the sponsoring employer. H-1B work-
authorization is restricted to employment by the sponsoring employer.

Usually, USCIS will start accepting applications from April 1st. Depending on the year, if it falls on
Sunday, it can be either April 2nd or 3rd.

Checklist of documents required for applying H1B:

This is a very high level checklist for applying for H1B. There may be some exceptions, but for the most
part, here is what you need:

 Copy of all educational certificates of your Bachelors (also Masters if applicable) degree including
mark sheets.
 Copy of Degree award certificates
 Copy of Passport- all pages
 If degree from US, Transcript and degree award certificate.
 If degree from US, Copy of I-20
 If you are in US, copy of I-94
 Copy of latest Resume.
 Work experience certificates (if any )
 If you already have a H1B approval, copy of previous H1B approval notice, I-797 form.
 If you are transferring H1B, copy of recent 3 months paystubs from your previous employer
 If you have any evaluation reports from work, copy of them too.
 If you have lived in US and paid taxes, copy of previous W2 tax forms.
 If you have lived in US, copy of your driving license or state ID
 If you have lived in US and have SSN, copy of your Social Security Card.
 If you have done education evaluation, copy of the education evaluations too.

LCA filing step by step process:

Step 1: US Employer creates job requirement and job duties for that requirement.
Step 2: Finds out relevant experience needed for the requirement. Requirement may be from clients or
for employer itself.
Step 3: Finds out county for that job location.
Step 4: Finds out Prevailing wage accepted by US Department of Labor.
Step 5: Employer either files LCA or asks attorney to prepare the LCA.
Step 6: Fills Employment-Based Non immigrant Visa Information, Temporary Need Information,
Employer Information, Attorney or agent information, Rate of Pay, Employment and Prevailing Wage
Information, Additional Employer Labor Condition Statements, and declaration of the employer.
Step 7: Submitted to US Department of Labor. Either US Department of Labor certifies it or rejects it.
Step 8: Fills LCA information in forms and Certified LCA is sent along with H-1B petition documents,
forms to USCIS.

H1B visa stamping & Interview:

Once the H1B petition is approved and a consequent visa interview with an applicable US consulate or
embassy is successful you get the H1 visa stamp on your passport.

The Following details outline the H1B visa stamping process if applying from India. This stamping process
assumes that you already have a H1B petition approved and are ready for a visa interview and visa
stamping.

Step 1. Get a digital photograph

Each individual H1B visa application requires a digital photograph. The acceptance of your digital image
or photo depends on the U.S. embassy or consulate where you apply.

The criteria for your photo are as follows:

 In color with 24 pixels per bit and taken in the last 6 months
 Dimensions must be in square format and range from a min of 600 pixels to a max of 1200 pixels
 In JPEG format equal to or under 240 KBs
 Should be taken with a plain white background, in full-face view
 Maintain neutral expression and clothing
 No head covering unless for religious purposes
 Effective November 1, 2016, eyeglasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos
 Always ensure the image is square and sized with head between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm
and 35mm) or 50% and 69% of the image's total height from the bottom of the chin to the top
of the head
 If you decide to scan an existing photograph, in addition to the above requirements, it should
also be:
 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)
 Scanned at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimeter)
 Carry 2 physical copies printed on quality paper for the interview

Eye Glasses are not allowed

Some embassies or consulates no longer require you to upload a digital photograph while filling out the
DS-160 form. In such cases, the photograph will be taken at the OFC (offsite facilitation center) or ASC
(Application Service Center) along with the fingerprint at Visa Application Center.

Step 2. Complete H1B visa application form DS160

H1B visa application (form DS160) must be completed online, over the internet. You can complete the
application at Dept of State website.

After successfully completing the application, you will receive a confirmation with a 10-digit barcode.
Take a printout of this page. This will be needed for setting up your visa interview appointment.

Step 3. Pay the H1B visa application fee

The fee can be paid either electronically as a bank transfer or in cash at designated Citi Bank or Axis bank
branches throughout the India. In order to ensure the proper amount is paid and activated in a timely
manner, first create a profile at US visa Service website and choose the Schedule Appointment option.
On the payment confirmation screen you will be presented with payment options and further details of
how to initiate payment. The fee is good for a year from the date of payment. You must take an
appointment within a year for your visa interview.

Step 4. Take appointment for visa interview

After you pay the fees, you will have to schedule 2 appointments as part of the H1B visa process. The
two-part appointment process consists of an appointment with one of the five Offsite Facilitation Center
(OFC) to give Biometrics information that includes fingerprinting and photograph, and second an
appointment with the Consulate or Embassy for a personal visa interview.

Take online visa appointment at offical website for US visa appointment.

Step 5. US Visa Fingerprinting at Visa Application Center (VAC)

After taking appointment with the consulate or embassy for personal interview, schedule the
fingerprinting appointment at least a day or two before the interview at the consulate. Earlier, the
fingerprints were taken during the personal interview. But under the new rules you are required to give
the Biometrics information at the VAC appointment. This measure has been introduced to reduce
congestion at the US consular facilities and to speed up the applicant processing. Schedule the visa
interview appointment at the Consulate or Embassy prior to the VAC appointment.

Step 6. Go for visa interview at designated US consulate

On the day and time of your appointment for interview, go to the consulate where your interview is
scheduled. Carry all mandatory and supporting documents and originals.

Carry the following to your interview:

 Your passport (and your old passports if any)

 Your photograph
 The DS-160 visa application confirmation page stamped at the VAC
 The visa application fee receipts (applicable for application in US consulate in India)
 Visa appointment letter.
 Petition-based visa applicants (H, L, F, J, M, R visas) should also bring petition-related
documents.
 Supporting documents, based on what kind of visa you are applying for.