What is H1B Visa Stamping?
H1B stamping refers to the official endorsement by the United States government of an applicant’s visa to temporarily work in the United States under the H1B visa. Stamping is necessary for a nonimmigrant worker to enter the United States for the purpose of working in their H1B specialty occupation. However, a visa stamp does not guarantee the applicant will ultimately be permitted entry to the United States when they arrive at a U.S. port of entry.
Instead, a visa stamp is but one of several requirements that an applicant must meet to pass security clearance when an applicant arrives at a U.S. port of entry. Even though a visa stamp is issued by U.S. government officials at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers make the final determination as to whether an applicant can enter the United States at a port of entry.
How to Receive an H1B Visa Stamping?
In order to receive an H1B visa stamp, an H1B visa applicant must first have been selected through the H1B lottery and then have their H1B petition approved by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Step One: Register for H1B Visa Lottery
In order to successfully register for the H1B visa, you must create an account with the USCIS or login if you’ve already created one in the past. Keep in mind, there is a $10 registration fee for each registration for a single beneficiary. The $10 fee is non-refundable.
There are three types of USCIS online accounts that you could register under. Review the account types below to determine which one matches your circumstances.
- Applicant/Petitioner/Requester Account
This account type is not appropriate for H1B visa registrations. Instead, this account type is used for individuals to prepare and file applications, petitions, or other benefit requests.
- Attorney/Representative Account
Attorneys or other representatives who are submitting H1B registrations on behalf of a petitioner must use this type of account. This account will allow the attorney or representative to submit Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative.
- Registrant Account
Prospective petitioners should register using this type of account. Petitioners can use this account to participate in the H1B registration process regardless of whether an attorney or representative will submit the registration on the petitioners behalf.
The initial registration period for the H1B visa lottery is generally around 14 days long in the month of March each year. For example, the initial registration period for 2022 begins on March 1st; however, accounts can begin to be created on February 21st, before registration officially opens. The initial registration period ends March 18th, 2022.
Below is the full 2022 registration period timeline:
- February 21st: Petitioners and registrants can start creating H1B registrant accounts at 12pm U.S. eastern standard time.
- March 1st: H1B registration period opens at 12pm U.S. eastern standard time.
- March 18th: H1B registration period closes at 12pm U.S. eastern standard time.
- March 31st: The USCIS will notify selected registrants
- April 1st: Selected registrants may file their petitions on this date.
The USCIS may open additional petition filing periods in 2022 if there are remaining unused H1B visas after the initial lottery selection. In 2021, the USCIS had an unexpected three filing periods. So, registrants should continue monitoring their selection status throughout the year and keep an eye out for USCIS updates about additional filing periods.
After the registration period closes, registrants and their representatives will be notified of their selection status on their USCIS online account throughout all filing periods.
On their online account, registrants or representatives will see one of five possible selection statuses, indicating where they stand with regard to the selection process:
- Submitted: The registration was successfully submitted, making the registrant eligible for selection in the selection process.
- Selected: The registrant has been selected to file an H1B petition.
- Not Selected: The registrant was not selected to file a H1B petition for this registration.
- Denied: There were multiple registrations submitted by or on behalf of the same beneficiary.
- Invalidated-Failed Payment: The fee payment submitted for the registration was declined, not reconciled, or otherwise invalid.
Step Two: Begin Petitioning Process if Selected in Lottery
Employers or their attorney can file the H1B petition only IF their applicant is selected in the lottery. The earliest an employer or their attorney can initiate the visa process is 6 months prior to the employment date stated on the petition or 6 months prior to the expiration date of the applicant’s current H1B status.
File Labor Condition Application (LCA)
At the start of the petitioning process, the employer or potential employer must first file a Labor Condition Application with the U.S. Department of Labor on the applicant’s behalf. This application requires the employer or potential employer to show that it will treat the H1B visa holder the same as other qualified workers in its same geographic area with regard to wage, and that other employees will be unaffected by the H1B visa holder’s working conditions.
File Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker
After the Labor Condition Application is certified by the Department of Labor, the employer or potential employer must then complete a Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker.
The employer or potential employer must submit Form I-129 and the certified Labor Condition Application to the USCIS as well as any fees and additional documentation that confirms your education level, certification, licensure, professional qualifications, employment or potential employment, and support from the employer or potential employer.
File Form DS-160 if Outside the United States
H1B visa applicants who are not in the United States at the time Form I-129 is approved must take necessary steps to lawfully enter the United States and begin working.
Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application is required to be filed online over the internet, where applicants must also pay an associated fee. Filing DS-160 involves uploading a photo of the applicant that conforms to the U.S. Department of State photograph requirements. Once Form DS-160 is submitted, the applicant must download and print the confirmation page showing Form DS-160 was completed and the filing fee paid. The confirmation page will need to be brought to the applicant’s visa interview at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy.
Attend U.S. Embassy or Consulate Interview if Outside the United States
H1B visa applicants who are outside the United States must next schedule an interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy nearest to you.
At the interview, the applicant must have certain documents with them, including:
- valid passport
- a printed copy of the confirmation page from your completion of Form DS-160
- a copy of your approved form I-129 and I-797 approval (issued to you previously when your form I-129 application was approved)
- receipts proving you paid your application fees and a passport-sized photo of you that conforms with U.S. Department of State guidelines;
- Degree and certification documents;
- Resume and curriculum vitae (CV)
It is common that the U.S. Embassy or Consulate officer who conducts the interview will approve the applicant’s visa at the conclusion of the interview if the applicant meets all the requirements for the visa and application process. It is at this point the applicant will receive the H1B visa stamp in their passport.
Enter the United States
As mentioned above, approval for the H1B visa and an H1B stamp does not guarantee entry into the United States. Applicants who receive the H1B visa stamp on their passport must attempt entry at a U.S. port of entry and have with them all the documentation that they brought with them to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate interview. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) makes the final decision whether an applicant has the appropriate documentation to be granted entry to the U.S. on a H1B visa.
