Skip to content
GetVisaOdds
Destinations Guides How it works Estimate my odds

🇺🇸 USA · Work visa

USA Work visa approval odds

US work visas (H-1B, L-1, O-1 and similar) are petition-based: your employer must first file and win a petition with USCIS (for H-1B, usually via the annual lottery); only then do you apply for the visa itself with a DS-160, the US$205 petition-based MRV fee, and an interview. Your own bank balance is not the test — the employer petition is.

Last reviewed July 2026 per our editorial standards. Source: U.S. Department of State — Bureau of Consular Affairs .

USA assesses a work visa on whether you have a genuine, sponsored job you are qualified for. As an approximate starting point, this route runs near a 87% base approval — your finances, ties and history then push your personal odds up or down.

Estimate my personal odds

Estimate your personal odds

Pre-filled for this route. A few taps and it’s done — privately, in your browser.

Step 1 of 80%

Your trip

The essentials. Pre-filled if you came from a specific page.

Key requirements

  • USCIS-approved petition filed by your US employer (e.g., Form I-129)
  • For H-1B: selection in the annual registration lottery, then petition approval
  • DS-160 application + US$205 petition-based visa (MRV) fee
  • Consular interview with your petition and role documents
  • Qualifications matching the petitioned role (degree/experience)

Visa fee (cost)

US$205 MRV fee for petition-based categories (H/L/O) per applicant — the employer’s petition carries separate USCIS fees.

Money & funds

No personal funds test. What matters is the employer's petition and that the offered wage meets the required wage level for the role and location.

Typical timeline

H-1B runs on an annual cycle (registration around March, start dates in October); after petition approval, the visa interview and issuance typically add days to a few weeks, plus any administrative processing.

Common refusal reasons

  • Petition problems — the job or qualifications don't hold up
  • 221(g) administrative processing for missing documents or extra checks
  • Doubts the role is a genuine specialty occupation (H-1B)
  • Employer-employee relationship or job-site questions
  • Prior US immigration violations

What actually moves the needle

A confirmed offer from a sponsoring employer

This is the heart of work decisions for USA. Make it concrete and documented rather than assumed.

Qualifications and experience that match the role

Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.

A sponsor in good standing

Officers weigh this alongside everything else — gather clear evidence before you apply.

Avoid the common pitfall

The most frequent reason this route fails is an unconfirmed offer or a role that does not match your background. Address it directly and you remove the biggest doubt.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to show my own money for a US work visa?

No. Petition-based work visas turn on the employer's approved petition and the offered wage — not your personal savings.

How does the H-1B lottery work?

Employers register candidates in USCIS's annual electronic registration (typically March). Selected registrations can file full petitions; approved petitions then support visa applications for an October start.

What is a 221(g) notice?

A temporary hold rather than a final refusal: the consulate wants more documents or checks. Most 221(g) cases resolve, but they add days to months.

Can I switch employers on an H-1B?

Yes, via a transfer petition filed by the new employer — you generally don't re-enter the lottery once counted against the cap.

Explore related visa odds

Helpful guides

Refused under Section 214(b)? What it means and how to reapply → Common DS-160 mistakes and how to avoid them (2026) → US visa wait times & getting an earlier appointment (2026) → How to read visa approval and refusal rates → How to prove strong ties to your home country → How to document your finances for a visa →