H-1B
Government & Politics abbreviation · Public Program
| Stands for | H-1B specialty occupation visa |
|---|---|
| Categories | Government & Politics |
H-1B stands for H-1B specialty occupation visa, a public program abbreviation.
Temporary work visa for foreign professionals in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree, such as software engineering, medicine and finance. It is valid for up to six years, and the annual cap is 65,000 visas plus 20,000 for holders of US master's degrees or higher.
Example: The company entered 300 candidates in this year's H-1B lottery.
Usage notes
Because applications far exceed the cap, employers register candidates for a random lottery each spring; universities and some research organizations are exempt from the cap. Employers must pay at least the prevailing wage. A September 2025 presidential proclamation added a $100,000 payment requirement for certain new H-1B petitions, which was challenged in court.
Related abbreviations
More public program abbreviations
- ESTA – Electronic System for Travel Authorization
- FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid
- FMR – Fair Market Rent
- FPL – Federal poverty level
- FRA – Full retirement age
- FWS – Federal Work-Study
- HCBS – Home and community-based services
- HCV – Housing Choice Voucher
- IDR – Income-driven repayment
- LIHEAP – Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
- LIHTC – Low-Income Housing Tax Credit
- LPR – Lawful permanent resident