The H1B visa program allows US employers to bring in foreign nationals with certain professional qualifications to work in the country for a specified period of time. The H1B visa serves as a work permit and allows workers in specialty occupations to work in the US for up to six (6) years at a time.

Unlike many other nonimmigrant visa categories, the H1B visa is categorized as a "dual intent" visa. This means that the visa allows the holder to apply for a Green Card and that the visa will not be denied simply because the person has intentions to become a permanent resident.

Apart from the need to document that the job being offered is in a specialty occupation and that the employee has the appropriate credentials for the job, the employer would also need to prove that the H1B visa worker is being paid the prevailing wage for the work being performed and that the employment of such person is not harming conditions for US workers.

An H1B visa holder may be permitted to bring their spouse and children during the validity of the visa. The family members would receive an H4 visa - H4 visa holders cannot take up paid employment.

Some of the specialty occupation categories covered by H1B visas are for jobs in the fields of computer science, health care, university teaching, engineering, financial analysis, management consulting, law, accounting, architecture and scientific research positions.