Visa Status

Rules & Regulations

The H-1B & J-1 visas

Understanding
Travel Visas

The H-1B and J-1 visas are both non-immigrant work-related visas in the U.S., but they serve different purposes and have different requirements. Here’s a comparison:

H-1B VISA

  • Eligibility: Requires at least a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience).
  • Purpose: For skilled foreign workers in specialty occupations (e.g., IT, engineering, healthcare, finance).
  • Sponsorship: Requires a U.S. employer to sponsor the applicant.
  • Duration: Initially granted for up to 3 years, extendable to a maximum of 6 years.
  • Work Restrictions: Can only work for the sponsoring employer.
  • Path to Green Card: Dual intent—can apply for a Green Card while on H-1B.
  • Numerical Cap: Limited to 85,000 new visas per year (65,000 for general applicants and 20,000 for those with U.S. master’s degrees).
  • Key Industries: Tech, finance, engineering, healthcare, and academia.

J-1 VISA

  • Purpose: For exchange visitors in educational, cultural, or research programs (e.g., professors, researchers, interns, trainees, au pairs).
  • Sponsorship: Requires a designated exchange program sponsor (e.g., universities, research institutions, or cultural exchange organizations).
  • Eligibility: Varies by program; may require a degree, experience, or affiliation with a university or organization.
  • Duration: Depends on the specific J-1 category (ranges from a few months to several years).

Key differences