Office of the Vice President for Global Engagement

International Faculty and Scholars Office

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H-1B Temporary Specialty Occupation

Processes and Requirements

The H-1B category allows for the temporary employment of an alien as a professional in a “specialty occupation.” This is defined by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as an occupation requiring “practical application of a body of specialized knowledge along with at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.” See the USCIS website for additional information.

An individual cannot self-sponsor in this category. Employer sponsorship is required.

H-1B status is employer specific. It allows the employee to work for a specific U.S. employer for a specific period of time and in a specific location. Multiple employers are allowed as long as each employer submits a separate H-1B petition, which is approved by USCIS.

To be eligible for H-1B status, a foreign national must have evidence of:

  • A U.S. baccalaureate degree or higher;
  • A foreign degree equivalent to a U.S. degree, as evaluated by a recognized credentials evaluation service; or
  • A state license to practice the profession, or a combination of specialized training and/or experience which can be substituted for a U.S. degree

H-1B status is limited to a maximum of three years initially and up to a total of six years through extensions.

Estimate of Processing Times by Government Agencies: The H-1B application process requires a prevailing-wage determination by the Arizona Department of Economic Security (AZ DES), certification of a Labor Condition Application (LCA) by the Department of Labor (DOL), and processing by USCIS. The average time required for the various processes, once the hiring department’s paperwork has been received by the International Faculty and Scholars Office is as follows:

  • Prevailing Wage Determination: Seven to ten days.
  • Labor Condition Application: Immediate online response. The 10 working days of posting in the hiring department can then begin, while Immigration processing is being pursued.
  • USCIS Processing: Three to seven months for regular processing; 15 calendar days (following receipt by USCIS) for Premium Processing.
  • Consular Processing: If the prospective employee is outside the U.S. and will enter the country as an H-1B, the U.S. consulate must first receive notification of H-1B approval directly from USCIS, a process that may take about two weeks. The applicant must also make an appointment for a visa interview, which usually takes about two weeks, and if security clearance from Washington is needed, this may take an additional three months or more.

It is important that this timing be considered when consideration is made for employment of an individual. If the prospective employee is in the U.S. on another visa type such as F-1 (for Optional Practical Training), or is outside the U.S. waiting to enter in H-1 status, it is essential to begin this process early. A prospective employee currently in the U.S. in H-1B status through another employer is eligible to begin employment at ASU if an H-1 B is filed before termination of the current employment.

H-1B Regulatory Requirements

A “Labor Condition Application” (LCA) must be approved by the U.S. Department of Labor before the H-1 petition can be submitted to USCIS. The LCA establishes that the hiring entity is providing the prevailing wage and fair working conditions and benefits for the intended employee. The employer must prove that there will be no adverse impact on the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers.

The law also requires that the employer of an H-1B be willing to pay the cost of a return to the foreign national’s home country if that person is terminated before the end of the contractual period.

Fees

  • Form I-129, petition for H-1B worker: $320.
  • Anti-Fraud Fee: $500. This fee applies to all initial H-1B petitions (including change of employer petitions). It is not required for extensions. This fee must be paid by the hiring department, not the scholar.
  • Form I-539, application to extend/change status for dependents: $300.
  • Form I-907, request for premium processing fee: $1,000.

Checks should be made payable to the Department of Homeland Security.

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