H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Progam

"An H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows a person to work legally and temporarily in the United States. The H-1B classification applies to persons in a specialty occupation which requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge..."

- U.S. Department of State

"The H-1B visa program took its current form in 1990, stemming from panic over a labor shortage that never materialized. The program allows for . . .temporary visas. . .good for up to six years, for people in "specialty occupations" tied to a specific employer. In practice, computer programmers and physical therapists have accounted for the large majority of H-1B visa users."

- Mark Krikorian, Executive Director of CIS