Country guide · United States
Working in the USA: H-1B and employer-sponsored visas
The US has a complex and lottery-dependent visa system. It's still one of the highest-paying markets in the world — but international candidates need to understand the process before applying.
Last updated May 1, 2026
Quick facts
Main employer route
H-1B (specialty occupations)
H-1B lottery?
Yes — annual lottery, high competition
Alternative routes
O-1, L-1, TN (Canadians/Mexicans)
Employer requirement
Prevailing wage + USCIS petition
H-1B cap
65,000 (+ 20,000 advanced degree exemption)
Path to green card?
Yes — employer-sponsored EB-2/EB-3
The H-1B lottery — what you need to know
The H-1B is the main visa for specialty occupation workers (typically requiring a bachelor's degree or equivalent). The annual cap is 65,000 plus 20,000 for US master's degree holders. Applications far exceed this — selection is by lottery in April each year.
If you're selected, your employer files a full petition. If not selected, you must wait for the next year's lottery. This uncertainty means many candidates pursue other routes or companies that sponsor OPT extensions while building lottery odds.
Companies that regularly sponsor H-1Bs are generally larger tech firms, consulting companies, and financial institutions. Smaller companies often can't absorb the cost and uncertainty.
Alternative visa routes worth knowing
- O-1 visa: for individuals with extraordinary ability in their field. Harder to qualify for but no lottery. Processing is faster and the criteria, while subjective, can be met by people with strong publication records, awards, or high compensation.
- L-1 visa: for intra-company transferees. If your employer has US operations, this can be faster and more predictable than H-1B.
- TN visa: for Canadian and Mexican citizens under CUSMA/USMCA. Covers a specific list of professions and is relatively straightforward at the border.
Salary context and what to expect
US tech salaries are the highest in the world for software engineers — especially in San Francisco, New York, and Seattle. But cost of living in those cities is also extreme.
Employers must pay the 'prevailing wage' for H-1B roles — you can look this up on the Department of Labor's Foreign Labor Certification Data Center to sanity-check any offer.
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