H-1B visa (specialty occupation) — $100,000 restriction since 2025

"Specialty Occupation": criteria

USCIS defines Specialty Occupation by 4 criteria (at least 1 must be met):

1. The position normally requires a bachelor's or higher (or equivalent) in a specific specialty.
2. The bachelor's requirement is common in the industry for parallel positions, or the position is so complex/unique it requires a degree.
3. The employer normally requires a bachelor's or higher for this position.
4. The duties are so specialized and complex that the knowledge can only be acquired with a bachelor's or higher.

Common fields: IT, engineering, finance, sciences, medicine, architecture.

FY 2026 / FY 2027 cap and lottery

FY 2026 (Oct 2025 → Sept 2026)

• Cap reached: 65,000 regular + 20,000 Master's.
• Unique beneficiaries: ~339,000 (vs ~442,000 FY 2025 — drop).
• Total registrations: 343,981 (vs 470,342 FY 2025).

FY 2027 (Oct 2026 → Sept 2027)

• Registration period opened March 4, 2026.
• Registration fee: $215 per beneficiary (since 2024).

Beneficiary-Centric Selection

Since FY 2025, USCIS selects by unique beneficiary rather than by registration. This neutralizes fraud where multiple employers created registrations for the same candidate.

September 2025 EO — $100,000 restriction

The Executive Order "Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers" (September 2025) requires that an H-1B petition include a $100,000 USD payment for the worker to be admitted to the US. Consequences:

• Petitions without $100K: beneficiary cannot enter the US (visa may be issued at consulate but entry blocked).
• Petitions with $100K: entry allowed.
• Practical effect: only employers willing to pay can really use H-1B. Massive selection for very high-value roles.
• Coverage: large tech, finance, medical employers. SMBs and start-ups largely excluded.

The EO and USCIS interpretation continue to evolve — verify status at petition time.

Duration and extensions

• Initial duration: 3 years.
• First extension: 3 additional years (total 6).
• Beyond 6 years: possible if I-140 (green card) petition approved or pending ≥ 365 days (AC21 §104(c) / §106(a)).
• Recapture: days spent outside the US can be "recaptured" and added to total duration.

Prevailing Wage (PWD)

Employer must pay at least the Prevailing Wage (PWD) determined by DOL (Department of Labor) by: profession (SOC code), experience level (1–4), and geographic area (MSA). Official source: OFLC Wage Library. The Labor Condition Application (LCA, Form ETA-9035) certifies the offered salary meets PWD.

Typical PWD levels

• Level 1 (entry): 17th percentile.
• Level 2 (qualified): 34th percentile.
• Level 3 (experienced): 50th percentile.
• Level 4 (fully competent): 67th percentile.

TN vs H-1B for Canadians

For Canadians, the TN visa is almost always preferable:

If the profession is on the TN list, take TN. H-1B remains useful for non-TN-list professions or to benefit from dual intent (immigrant intent).

Formulaires officiels mentionnés (liens directs)

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• Form I-129 — Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker. https://www.uscis.gov/i-129
• Form ETA-9035 — Labor Condition Application (DOL). https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/forms
• USCIS — H-1B Cap Season. https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations/h-1b-cap-season
• USCIS — H-1B Specialty Occupations. https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/h-1b-specialty-occupations
• OFLC Wage Library. https://www.flcdatacenter.com
• Form I-907 — Premium Processing. https://www.uscis.gov/i-907