Obtaining an H-1B Visa Stamp in your Passport

If you change to H-1B status while in the U.S., we will provide you with the forms necessary to apply for an H-1B visa stamp prior to your first trip outside of the U.S.

If your H-1B is sponsored while you are living outside of the U.S. we will have the embassy of your choice notified of the approval and will send you the documents necessary to apply for a visa stamp. Please be aware that you may not enter the U.S. in H-1B status more than 10 days prior to the effective date of that status.

As with all non-immigrant visas, the consular official has sole discretion to grant the visa.

For information about the embassy or consulate at which you will apply, click here.

For an estimated wait time for visa processing and interview scheduling from the Department of State, click here.

Security Checks

Security checks during application for a visa stamp are very common for all people studying or working in scientific fields.  They are even more common in specific countries such as China, India, Korea and Middle Eastern countries.  While these checks are usually completed within 3 weeks, a few have taken as long as 6 months and there is nothing Southwestern can do to shorten the period of time it will take.  Please plan accordingly and let your supervisor know about this possibility.

 Entering the U.S. in H-1B Status

When entering the U.S. in H-1B status you must present both your I-797 approval notice and the H-1B visa stamp in your passport. Please be sure that the I-94 (small, white card) that you are given at the port-of-entry) has an expiration date that matches ytour I-797 and not your visa stamp as those two dates are sometimes different.