English » U.S. Visa Services » Work Permit (Nonimmigrant Visa) » H-1 B Visa "Specialty Occupation" » How long is the H-1B visa usually valid?
The H-1B via can be issued for an initial period of up to three years. It can, however, also be limited to a shorter period of time by US authorities.
After that, you can apply for an extension of three more years. The maximum time limit for the H-1B visa is six years. If you have applied for an immigrant visa ("green card") before the end of those maximum six years (e.g. EB-2 or EB-3), your H-1B visa may be extended until the green card application is approved, but for no more than one more year, so that the maximum stay will be a total of seven years. During this time visa holders can legally work as H-1B employees.
There is, by the way, no cap on the extension of H-1B visas once they have been approved. This means, extension applications can be filed any time during the year.
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