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πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States Work Visa (H-1B) document checklist

Specialty occupation employment.

Typical decision: 2-6 months 12 required documents
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Document coverage

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Self-reported coverage only. It does not check dates, name matches, balances or tampering β€” that is what the full analysis does.

Required documents

  • Valid Passport
    Required

    Machine-readable passport valid at least 6 months beyond travel.

  • Passport Photograph
    Required

    Recent biometric-standard photo.

  • Completed Application Form
    Required

    Signed and consistent with supporting evidence.

  • Bank Statements
    Required

    Last 3-6 months showing sufficient and stable funds.

  • Job Offer / Employment Contract
    Required

    Signed contract stating role, salary and start date.

  • Proof of Income
    Required

    Payslips, tax returns or business income evidence.

  • Sponsorship / Work Authorisation Reference
    Required

    Sponsor licence number, certificate or labour approval.

  • Qualifications for the Role
    Required

    Degrees or certificates that match the occupation requirement.

  • Experience Letters
    Required

    Reference letters covering the claimed years of experience.

  • Salary Threshold Evidence
    Required

    Proof the offered salary meets the route minimum.

  • Purpose of Travel Letter
    Required

    Clear, consistent explanation of the visit or study plan.

  • Ties to Home Country
    Required

    Employment, property, family or study commitments.

Strongly recommended

  • Sponsorship / Affidavit of Support

    Required only if funded by a third party.

  • Travel Itinerary

    Flight and accommodation plan for the intended stay.

  • Accommodation Proof

    Hotel booking, invitation or tenancy evidence.

  • Language Requirement Proof

    Test result or exemption evidence where the route requires it.

  • Police Clearance Certificate

    Required for many regulated occupations and long stays.

  • Travel / Health Insurance

    Coverage meeting the destination minimum.

  • Education Documents

    Transcripts, degrees and admission letters.

  • Medical / TB Certificate

    Where required by the destination for your nationality.

  • Employment Letter

    Leave approval or employment confirmation.

Why United States Work Visa (H-1B) applications get refused

Most refusals are not about missing documents β€” they are about documents that contradict each other.

  • Offered salary below the route threshold for the occupation code
  • Experience letters do not cover the claimed years or duties
  • Qualification does not map to the sponsored job role
  • Sponsor reference expired or issued for a different role
  • Missing police clearance or medical certificate for the nationality

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Work Visa (H-1B) take to process?

Most Work Visa (H-1B) decisions land in 2-6 months, but peak season and additional document requests can extend that. Apply early and keep every document consistent.

What is the most common reason a Work Visa (H-1B) is refused?

Salary or experience evidence that does not line up with the sponsored role.

Can DocuScore AI check my Work Visa (H-1B) documents?

Yes. Upload what you already have and the free readiness score reviews each required document against this checklist, flags gaps and shows what a case officer is likely to question.

Deep dives for United States β€” Work Visa (H-1B)

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