H-1B Visa for Specialty Occupations
H-1B visa for specialty occupations — Our H-1B visa for specialty occupations practice represents both employers and professionals in specialty occupations — positions that require at least a bachelor’s degree in a specific field.
H-1B Visa for Specialty Occupations — Free Consultation
We handle the full lifecycle: cap registration and lottery strategy, the labor condition application, petition drafting, transfers, amendments, and extensions — and we plan the path beyond H-1B toward a green card.
Silmi Law serves clients nationwide across all 50 states and at U.S. consulates worldwide, from our office at 5707 Calverton Street, Suite 2A, Catonsville, MD 21228. Representation is offered in English, Arabic, and Spanish.
H-1B Visa Matters We Handle
- Cap Registration & Lottery — Electronic registration and strategy for the annual cap selection.
- Specialty Occupation Proof — Showing the role and your degree meet the specialty-occupation standard.
- Cap-Exempt Petitions — Filings for universities, nonprofits, and qualifying research organizations.
- Transfers & Amendments — Changing employers or worksites and handling material changes.
- Extensions & AC21 — Extending H-1B status, including beyond six years with a pending green card.
- Green Card Planning — Mapping PERM, NIW, or EB-1A paths from H-1B.
How Our H-1B Visa for Specialty Occupations Process Works
- Free Eligibility Review — We assess your background, profession, and goals to confirm the strongest visa or green card category for your profile — at no cost.
- Strategy & Evidence Mapping — We build a custom evidence plan, identify gaps, and map your achievements to the governing USCIS criteria before drafting begins.
- Petition Preparation & Filing — We draft the petition, recommendation letters, and legal brief, assemble exhibits, and file with USCIS.
- Decision, RFE & Next Steps — We respond to any Request for Evidence and, on approval, guide you through consular processing or adjustment of status.
Why Choose Silmi Law for the H-1B Visa for Specialty Occupations
- Founder-Led Representation — Sharif Silmi personally handles your case — never handed to a junior associate.
- Self-Petition & Strategy Expertise — Proven results in EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, O-1, and complex petitions.
- Multilingual Services — Served in English, Arabic, and Spanish.
- Evidence-Driven Petitions — Every claim mapped to USCIS criteria with strong documentation.
- Transparent Flat Fees — Clear scope and pricing — no surprise hourly billing.
- RFE-Ready & Responsive — We anticipate and address officer concerns before they arise.
For official program details, see the USCIS H-1B specialty occupations page.
Related services: O-1 visa for extraordinary ability, L-1A / L-1B intracompany transferee visa, EB-2 NIW green card for engineers. You can also review our immigration representation overview or meet the immigration legal team.
Frequently Asked Questions — H-1B Visa for Specialty Occupations
How does the H-1B lottery work?
Employers register electronically, and USCIS randomly selects registrations up to the annual cap.
What qualifies as a specialty occupation?
A role that normally requires at least a bachelor’s degree in a specific field related to the job.
Can I switch employers on an H-1B?
Yes, via an H-1B transfer to the new employer.
What does cap-exempt mean for H-1B?
Certain universities, nonprofits, and research organizations can file without going through the lottery.
How long can I stay on an H-1B?
Generally six years, with exceptions for those with a pending green card.
Is O-1 or EB-1A an alternative if I am not selected in the lottery?
Yes; the O-1, EB-1A, or NIW can be alternatives depending on your record.
Can my spouse work on an H-4?
In some cases, with an H-4 EAD.
Start Your Free Case Evaluation Today
Ready to move forward with your H-1B visa for specialty occupations? Request a free case evaluation, book a strategy session, or call (443) 329-2929.
