H-1B1 Visa: US Work Visa for Chilean and Singaporean Professionals

You must:

• Be a citizen of Chile or Singapore (permanent residents of those countries do not qualify)
• Have a job offer from a US employer in a specialty occupation, meaning a job that normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field
• Hold that degree or its equivalent
• Plan to work temporarily and then return home

The Chile agreement also lets a few specific occupations, such as agricultural managers and physical therapists, qualify with alternative credentials. Ask the consulate if this applies to you.

The employer must obtain a certified Labor Condition Application (LCA) from the Department of Labor (DOL). The LCA confirms the employer will pay at least the prevailing wage and meet other worker protections, the same as for the H-1B visa.

The H-1B1 numbers are set aside from the overall H-1B cap. Unused H-1B1 numbers are returned to the H-1B pool for the following year. In recent years, demand for H-1B1 visas has stayed below these limits, which is why Chilean and Singaporean professionals often find it a faster option than the H-1B.

The $100,000 H-1B fee proclamation was written for H-1B petitions, and as of September 2026 USCIS is not collecting the payment because of a court order. H-1B1 is a separate classification, but check with the employer's lawyer before relying on that difference.

• You are admitted for up to 1 year at a time, matching your job.
• You can extend in 1-year steps, either by returning to a consulate or by having your employer file Form I-129 with USCIS.
• There is no set maximum number of extensions, but each time you must show you still intend to return home.

You may work only for the employer that obtained your LCA, in the role described. To change employers, the new employer needs its own certified LCA, and you either apply for a new visa or the new employer files a petition with USCIS.

Consular officers decide H-1B1 cases directly, often without any earlier USCIS review, so your documents carry the case. Bring:

• Your passport and DS-160 confirmation page
• The certified LCA from your employer
• A job offer letter that describes your duties, the degree the job requires, your salary, work location, and employment dates
• Your degree certificates and transcripts
• A credential evaluation if your degree is from outside the United States and its equivalence may be unclear
• Any license the job requires, such as a state professional license
• Evidence of your ties to Chile or Singapore, since you must show you will return

If you are renewing, also bring pay slips or a letter confirming you have been working in the role described on your earlier LCA.

Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can join you on H-4 visas. They can study in the United States. H-4 spouses of H-1B1 workers cannot get a work permit; the H-4 work permit is only for certain spouses of H-1B workers. Your family members' stays are tied to yours.

There is no H-1B lottery registration fee for H-1B1 cases, because there is no registration. The $500 fraud prevention fee and the Public Law 114-113 fee that apply to some H-1B petitions do not apply to H-1B1.

DOL's rules call for it to act on an LCA within 7 working days after the employer files it through the FLAG system. After that, the main wait is for a visa appointment. Check the State Department's global visa wait times for Santiago or Singapore, or wherever you apply. If your employer files with USCIS instead, check the USCIS processing times tool.

Chile and Singapore are not on the 2026 travel ban list, but you generally must apply in your country of nationality or residence.

The H-1B1 does not allow dual intent. If your employer files a green card case for you, such as a PERM labor certification, you may have trouble getting your next H-1B1 extension or visa. Many workers who want permanent residence first move to an H-1B or O-1A, which do not require you to keep a home abroad, or qualify directly for a category such as the EB-2 NIW. Plan this with an immigration lawyer.

Common refusal reasons:

• The job does not require a specific bachelor's degree
• Your degree does not match the job, or its equivalence is unclear
• The LCA does not match the job title, location, or wage
• The officer doubts you intend to leave after your stay (especially if a green card case is pending)