Applying for an H-1B Visa and for Admission to the United States
Note: This article contains general information. Individual experiences may differ and Consular Offices’ procedures may vary. The information is subject to change any time. This information is provided to LSU international employees as a service. It does not constitute legal advice.
The best way to learn about visa application procedures at a particular U.S. consulate is to visit the State Department website and select the appropriate consulate.
The first step in obtaining a U.S. visa is to schedule an appointment for a visa interview at a U.S. consulate. Advance planning is very important. It is best to apply for the visa at the earliest possible time before the planned travel date. It is very important to compile all the required visa application documents and complete all the forms fully. The interview itself is normally brief, usually lasting no longer than five minutes. To learn about availability of interview dates and estimated visa processing time at a particular consulate, check appointment wait times on the U.S. State Department website.
The visa is usually issued the same day that the visa application is approved. However, most U.S. consulates no longer allow an applicant to pick up their passport once the visa has been issued. They send the passport to the applicant’s address by mail. The visa processing time (usually 10 days) normally includes the time it takes for you to receive the visa/passport in the mail. Check the information on your visa stamp and that of your dependent (as applicable) for accuracy when the visa is issued, not later. If there is an error, ask for it to be fixed.
Reciprocity rules determine how much time is granted on the visa. For most applicants the visa will have the same validity period as their H-1B status as indicated on form I-797. Remember that a visa is needed for entry into the U.S., not to stay in the U.S. Therefore if the visa expires while you are in the United States, you do not need to have it re-issued.
No Interview Waiver
Last Updated: September 18, 2025
Effective October 1, 2025, all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including applicants under the age of 14 and over the age of 79, will generally require an in-person interview with a consular officer.
Consular officers can require an in-person interview for any reason. Applicants should check embassy and consulate websites for more detailed information about visa application requirements and procedures, and to learn more about the embassy or consulate’s operating status and services: Interview Waiver Update
Apply in Your Home Country
Effective immediately, the Department of State has updated its instructions for all nonimmigrant visa applicants scheduling visa interview appointments:
- Applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas (NIV) should schedule their visa interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of nationality or residence.
- Nationals of countries where the U.S. government is not conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations must apply at the designated embassy or consulate, unless their residence is elsewhere.
Applicants should note the following:
- Residence Requirement: Applicants must be able to demonstrate residence in the country where they are applying, if the place of application is based on their residency.
- Fees: Applicants who schedule nonimmigrant interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of their country of nationality or residence might find that it will be more difficult to qualify for the visa.
- Appointment Availability: Wait times for nonimmigrant interview appointments vary by location. Applicants applying outside their country of nationality or residence should expect to wait significantly longer for an appointment.
- Existing Appointments: Existing nonimmigrant visa appointments will generally not be cancelled.
Automatic Visa Revalidation
The rule found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 22 CFR 41.112(d) allows nonimmigrant visa holders to re-enter the U.S. without a valid U.S. nonimmigrant visa stamp – that is, if the H visa has expired or if you have changed status and do not even have an H-1B visa. Nationals of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Sudan are not currently eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation.
You are eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation under the following conditions:
- Your period abroad does not exceed 30 days.
- Your travel includes only Canada or Mexico.
- You are otherwise admissible to the U.S.
- You have not applied for a new visa while abroad.
- You have maintained valid nonimmigrant status prior to departure from the U.S. and plan to return to the U.S. to resume that status.
- You are in possession of appropriate documents to demonstrate status: valid passport; valid Form I-797 H-1B approval notice; most recently issued I-94.
If you plan to use automatic revalidation, we encourage you to email us and request a letter to facilitate your re-entry.
Resources
- Checklist for H-1B Visa Application & Admission (see attachments)