H-1B Visa Guide for F1 Students & Job Seekers
Everything you need to know about finding an H-1B sponsor, understanding the lottery process, and using DOL data to evaluate employers. This guide is designed for F1 students on OPT/STEM OPT and international professionals seeking H-1B sponsorship.
1. What Is the H-1B Visa?
The H-1B is a non-immigrant work visa for "specialty occupations" that require at least a bachelor's degree. It's the most common path for international graduates to work in the US after completing their studies.
2. H-1B Cap vs. Cap-Exempt
Most H-1B petitions are subject to the annual cap of 85,000 and require lottery selection. However, certain employers are cap-exempt and can file at any time without a cap.
Cap-Subject (Lottery Required)
- For-profit companies
- Most private employers
- Annual lottery, ~25-30% selection rate
- Filing window: March each year
Cap-Exempt (No Lottery)
- Universities and colleges
- Nonprofit research orgs
- Government research labs
- Can file year-round
3. The H-1B Lottery Process
The typical H-1B timeline for cap-subject employers:
Key point: The employer must file an LCA (Labor Condition Application) with the DOL before submitting the H-1B petition to USCIS. The LCA filings you see on H1B Guru are this first step in the process.
4. F1 OPT to H-1B Transition
Most F1 students use Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT to work while pursuing H-1B sponsorship.
Strategy: Target employers with new employment filings — this confirms they're willing to sponsor fresh H-1B petitions, not just transfer existing H-1B holders.
5. How to Evaluate an H-1B Sponsor
Use H1B Guru sponsor profiles to check these key signals:
Approval Rate
Look for 95%+ LCA approval rates. Low approval rates may indicate issues with the employer's filings.
New Employment Count
High "new employment" filings confirm the employer sponsors fresh H-1B petitions, not just renewals or transfers.
Wage Levels
Level I wages are entry-level. Level II+ wages are stronger for petition approval. Check that offered wages significantly exceed prevailing wages.
PERM (Green Card) Pipeline
Active PERM filings indicate the employer supports long-term immigration (green card sponsorship), not just temporary H-1B employment.
6. Red Flags to Watch For
- High amendment percentage: Frequent amendments can indicate the employer changes job terms after filing.
- All Level I wages: Consistently low wage levels suggest the employer may underpay H-1B workers.
- Staffing/consulting model: Not inherently bad, but be aware of the third-party worksite model and potential bench time between projects.
- Low or zero PERM filings: If an employer sponsors many H-1Bs but no green cards, they may not support long-term immigration.
- H-1B Dependent employer: These employers have additional attestation requirements and restrictions.
7. H1B Guru Tools for Your Search
Search by company name, filter by industry, cap-exempt status, and more.
Search individual H-1B filings by employer, title, state, and wage.
Employers that don't require the H-1B lottery.
Companies with new employment filings for fresh H-1B visas.
Search green card (PERM) filings to check employer GC sponsorship history.
Top 100 H-1B sponsors ranked by filing volume.