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U.S. visa guide
The H-1B is the largest U.S. work visa for Indians. It is petition-based: a U.S. employer must file an I-129 petition with USCIS, which must be approved before you can apply for the visa stamp. H-1B is subject to an annual cap of 65,000 plus 20,000 for U.S. master's degree holders, allocated by lottery. After approval, you apply at the consulate for the stamp. H-1B is initially issued for up to 3 years, extendable to 6.
Typical validity
Tied to I-797 approval period (up to 3 years)
Max stay per visit
Up to 6 years total in H-1B status
Visa fee
USD 205
H-1B is by far the most common Indian work visa. As of September 2025, H-1B was removed from the interview waiver program — even renewal applicants must now attend in-person interviews. Wait times at Indian consulates have stretched significantly. Officers commonly press on actual day-to-day job duties, employer-employee relationship, project specifics, and (for consulting/staffing roles) the end client.
Practise the H-1B interview
Walk through likely H-1B questions in a realistic mock interview, with structured feedback after each answer. Free to start, no card required.
Compare with
L-1
Transfer from your Indian employer's office to its U.S. office (same company group).
O-1
Top-of-field individuals (sciences, arts, education, business, athletics) with sustained acclaim.
E-3
Australian citizens only — specialty occupation work, similar to H-1B.
Source. U.S. State Department: Official H-1B information. This guide is informational, not legal advice. The consular officer makes the final eligibility determination at the interview. visainterview.in is not affiliated with the U.S. Government.
visainterview.in is an independent preparation platform. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or any agency of the U.S. Government. Practice sessions are provided for preparation purposes only and do not guarantee a visa outcome.
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