H-1B1 visa
H-1B1 visa: work in the US as a Chilean or Singaporean professional
H-1B1 is a free trade work visa for nationals of Chile and Singapore in a degree-level job. It comes in 1-year periods and has its own yearly numbers.
Last checked October 2026 · Sources
- Who
- Nationals of Chile or Singapore
- Each period
- 1 year
- Yearly limits
- 1,400 Chile, 5,400 Singapore
- Legal fee
- Quoted on request
Quick answer
What is the H-1B1 visa?
H-1B1 is a work visa for nationals of Chile and Singapore in a specialty occupation. Your employer files a Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor. You are admitted for 1 year and can extend 1 year at a time. Unlike H-1B, H-1B1 is not dual intent, so you must show you plan to return home.
- Yearly limits set by law: 1,400 for Chile and 5,400 for Singapore.
- You can apply directly at a US consulate. The law does not require a USCIS petition first.
- After every second extension, the employer needs a new Labor Department certification.
- Spouses and children come in H-4 status and cannot work in it.
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You are a national of Chile or Singapore
H-1B1 comes from the US-Chile and US-Singapore Free Trade Agreements.
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A specialty occupation
The job needs theoretical and practical use of specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree in the specific specialty, or its equivalent (8 U.S.C. 1184(i)(3)).
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A Labor Condition Application
The employer files a Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor. It must pay the higher of the actual wage or the prevailing wage (8 U.S.C. 1182(t)(1)). The DOL says many H-1B rules apply.
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You intend to leave at the end
H-1B1 is not on the dual intent list. Every H-1B1 applicant is presumed to be an intending immigrant until they show otherwise (8 U.S.C. 1184(b)).
At a glance
H-1B1 vs H-1B
| H-1B1 | H-1B | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Nationals of Chile and Singapore | Any nationality |
| USCIS petition before the visa | Not required | Required |
| Each period | 1 year, extended 1 year at a time | Up to 3 years, usually 6 in total |
| Yearly numbers | 1,400 Chile, 5,400 Singapore (principals only) | Annual cap. Most employers register, with selection weighted by wage level from FY 2027 |
| Dual intent | No | Yes |
H-1B1 numbers are taken out of the 65,000 H-1B cap. Numbers left unused at the end of a fiscal year go back to H-1B (8 U.S.C. 1184(c)(1), (g)(8)). H-1B periods: 8 CFR 214.2(h). More on H-1B.
The process
How to get and keep H-1B1 status
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Attorney review
A partner-firm attorney checks the job, your degree and your ties to home.
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Employer files the LCA
The employer files the Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor for H-1B1.
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Apply at a US consulate
You apply for the H-1B1 visa with the certified LCA and proof of your degree. The law does not require a USCIS petition first.
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Already in the US? File Form I-129
To change to H-1B1 or extend inside the US, the employer files Form I-129 with USCIS.
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Extend 1 year at a time
After every second extension, the next one needs the Labor Department to certify a new employer attestation. The DOL describes this as a new LCA (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(8)(C)).
What it costs
H-1B1 USCIS fees as of October 2026
These apply only when the employer files Form I-129 in the US. From Form G-1055, edition 10/01/26.
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-129 (H-1B1) | $780 paper, $730 online | $460 for small employers and nonprofits. |
| Asylum Program Fee | $600 | $300 for small employers. $0 for nonprofits. |
| ACWIA fee | $1,500 or $750 | Depends on employer size, unless exempt. |
| Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee | $0 | Not charged for H-1B1. |
| Pub. L. 114-113 fee | $0 | Does not apply to H-1B1. |
| Our legal fee | Quoted on request | Flat fee, set before you sign. Handled by partner-firm attorneys. |
Source: USCIS Form G-1055. State Department visa fees for the consular route are separate.
FAQ
Questions people ask
No. Federal law treats L-1 and H-1B workers as allowed to seek a green card, but it excludes H-1B1. You must show you plan to leave when your stay ends.
Each period is 1 year, extended 1 year at a time. There is no fixed total in the statute, but after every second extension the employer needs a new Labor Department certification.
H-1B1 has its own yearly limits: 1,400 for Chile and 5,400 for Singapore. A partner-firm attorney confirms how a filing inside the US is counted.
No. H-4 status does not allow work by itself. The H-4 work permit rule is written for spouses of H-1B workers (8 CFR 214.2(h)(9)(iv)).
It is possible, but timing matters because H-1B1 is not dual intent. Some people switch to H-1B or O-1 first. Ask a partner-firm attorney before filing.
You may have up to 60 days in a row, or until your stay ends if sooner (8 CFR 214.1(l)(2)). You cannot work in that time unless something else allows it.
Planning a green card?
H-1B1 does not allow dual intent, so the order of steps matters. Check your O-1A, EB-1A or NIW fit for free, then plan with a partner-firm attorney.
Sources · checked October 2026
- 8 U.S.C. 1184(b), (c)(1), (g)(8), (h) and (i)(3) (Cornell LII)
- US Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division: H-1B1 program
- eCFR: 8 CFR 214.2(h) Temporary employees (H-4 dependents, H-1B periods)
- eCFR: 8 CFR 214.1(l) 60-day grace period
- USCIS Form G-1055 Fee Schedule, edition 10/01/26 (PDF)
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; a partner-firm attorney confirms what applies to you before anything is filed.
