Shilpa Malik 
Boris Ignachkov 
One of the unique advantages of the H-1B classification is the way it accommodates a wide range of professionals with varying academic backgrounds, including those without a college degree. While most professional-level jobs in the United States require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, many individuals are working in the U.S. on an H-1B visa without a degree.
If you were wondering whether you could get the H-1B visa despite not having a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree, you can. This article provides a complete guide on how to go about your H-1B visa application process as an applicant without a degree.
H-1B Overview
The H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant category that allows organizations in the United States to employ foreign nationals in specialties that require technical or theoretical skills in different specialized fields.
The H-1B covers a wide range of professions, such as finance, accounting, architecture, IT, science, engineering, medicine, etc. It is one of the most popular work visas in the United States, with no less than 85,000 visas issued every year. There are three subcategories for the H-1B visa:
- H-1B for Specialty Occupations
- H-1B2 for DOD Researchers and Development Project Workers
- H-1B3 for Fashion Models
If you were selected in the 2025-26 H-1B visa lottery, contact VisaNation attorneys for filing your H-1B petition.
H-1B Eligibility Criteria
As an applicant without a degree, you can petition under the specialty occupation or fashion model subcategories, provided you have the requirements to supplement the lack of a degree in your field. Each of these two subcategories has distinctive criteria.
H-1B: Specialty Occupation Requirements
The USCIS has provided the following four eligibility criteria, of which an eligible applicant must meet at least one:
- A U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher that is directly related to the specialty occupation being applied for
- A foreign degree that is equivalent to at least a United States bachelor’s degree in the specialty occupation
- An unrestricted state license, certification, or registration that gives authorization to fully practice the profession in the state of your prospective employment
- Education, training, or progressive experience with increasing responsibility in the profession that is equivalent to the completion of the required degree in the field and the particular position you intend to occupy
H-1B3: Fashion Model Requirements
- The eligibility criterion for this simply requires you to be a fashion model of distinguished ability and merit
Going by the above criteria, it is evident that the H-1B visa is not out of reach for applicants who lack a university degree. If you are interested in the specialty occupation subcategory, you will need to use your experience in the field as a substitute for the lack of a degree. While academic qualifications remain the easiest way of determining eligibility, applicants who can expressly demonstrate a breadth of skills and abilities in their chosen career are still being granted H-1B visas by the USCIS.
However, this will require creativity from your petitioner when filing your application. Remember that you are competing with other applicants with bachelor’s, master’s, and other advanced degrees. We also recommend that you work closely with an immigration lawyer to help boost your chances.
The same applies to the fashion model subcategory. While the criterion may appear as simple as having distinguished ability or merit in the modeling industry, you will also be competing with people who combine both talents and higher academic qualifications.
If you were selected in the 2025-26 H-1B visa lottery, contact VisaNation attorneys for filing your H-1B petition.
How Can I Get an H-1B Without a Degree?
According to immigration regulations guiding the H-1B adjudication, proving equivalence means providing evidence of achievement of a level of competence, knowledge, and practice in the specialty occupation that has been determined to be equal to that of a person who has a baccalaureate or higher degree in the specialty. This will be determined by meeting one or more of the following five conditions:
Evaluation from a College Official
This criterion requires your petition to include an evaluation from a college official who has the authority to grant credit for training or experience in your specific field. The evaluation may involve interview sessions with you and your superiors in your present or past employment positions and a thorough review of your portfolio. If the official deems it fit, he or she may also visit your place of work to have first-hand information and documentation of the nature of projects you engage in.
Result of Recognized Exams or Special Credit Programs
Having the results of any of the recognized credit programs, such as the Program on Noncollegiate Sponsored Instruction (PONOSI) or the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) can help in demonstrating your proficiency however, USCIS typically relies on formal education credentials and documented work experience.
Whichever program result you wish to use, make sure that it relates to the very specialty occupation in question. It is important to consult your immigration lawyer first to determine which equivalency examination will be most appropriate in your case.
Evaluation of Foreign Academic Qualification
If your qualifications were acquired outside the United States, your credentials will be evaluated to determine if they meet the equivalency of a U.S. degree. This will be conducted by a reliable credential evaluation service.
Evidence of Certification from a Reputable Association
You can also qualify for an H-1B without a degree by presenting proof of registration or certification from a nationally recognized professional organization in your field. Keep in mind that not all organizations will count for this criterion.
For an organization to be recognized, it must grant certification only to those who have attained a certain level of accomplishment in the profession. Furthermore, your membership in the association must be based on merit and your past achievements in the field. You can increase your chances by submitting the association’s membership constitution to prove it meets the criterion.
If you were selected in the 2025-26 H-1B visa lottery, contact VisaNation attorneys for filing your H-1B petition.
Evidence of Combination of Education, Specialized Training, and Experience Equivalent to a Degree
Having ample experience in your field of specialty will be of substantial benefit to your case. The totality of your experience and practical training will be considered.
According to this criterion, three years of specialized training and job experience will be considered equivalent to one year of college-level training that you lack. The job experience or specialized training must be seen to be directly related to the specialty occupation you are seeking to use for your H-1B.
It must also be established that you acquired your experience through years of working with subordinates, peers, and supervisors who have a degree or its equivalent in the field. This must be proven by at least one of the following:
- Attestation to your expertise in the field by at least two recognized authorities in the specialty occupation
- Membership in a recognized professional association in your field, either in the United States or a foreign country
- Published material about or by you in a professional publication, trade journal, major newspaper, or book
- A license to practice the occupation in a foreign country
- Evidence of your major contribution to the field as determined by a recognized authority in the specialty occupation
How to Apply for an H-1B Visa Without a Degree
The application process involves three major steps, which are the same if you are applying for an H-1B visa without a degree or with a degree. The steps are as follows:
Step One: Labor Certification
The Labor Condition Application (LCA) is a prerequisite for H-1B approval and is filed by the employer. The application is processed by the Department of Labor to ensure that the employment process between an H-1B worker and his or her employer is conducted according to the U.S. labor regulations.
The LCA contains information about the job title, duration, location, and wages. It also ensures that the employer’s current workforce will not be negatively affected if you were to be hired. It must be approved before your employer can submit the H-1B petition to the USCIS.
Step Two: Submission of Form I-129
Once the LCA is approved by the DOL, the employer will submit the H-1B petition on the employee’s behalf to the USCIS using Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker.
The form must include all the required supporting evidence to establish your eligibility based on your experience, such as a credential evaluation and the approved LCA.
How you present your petition has a significant impact on your approval chances. The average processing time for a properly filed I-129 is 3.8 months according to USCIS data (varies by service center)
Step Three: Consular Processing
If you are applying from outside the U.S., you will have to go through consular processing to apply for a visa once the I-129 has been approved. This will be done at the U.S. embassy in your country of residence. Consular processing involves a one-on-one interview with a consular officer.
If you were selected in the 2025-26 H-1B visa lottery, contact VisaNation attorneys for filing your H-1B petition.
How To Go From H-1B Visa to Green Card
The H-1B to green card process first involves having an employer that is willing to sponsor your green card. If you are on an H-1B, this may involve a discussion with them regarding switching to an employment based green card.
If they are willing, they the employer obtains a PERM Labor Certification. After that is approved, the employer will file the I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker.
Once your priority date (the date the I-140 is filed) becomes current in the Visa Bulletin and you are in the United States, you can file Form I-485, Adjustment of Status. As soon as your I-485 is approved, you will receive a green card in the mail.
If you need evidence of your permanent residency while you wait for your physical card, a temporary I-551 stamp may be issued by USCIS.
How Soon Can I Apply for a Green Card after H-1B?
There is no cut-and-dry waiting period you’re required to follow. You can technically start the green card process as soon as you have a willing employer to sponsor you and begin the PERM process. Note that applicants from China and India, unfortunately, face longer backlogs after the I-140 approval due to the number of green cards issued per year in those countries and the high demand from skilled workers there.
H-1B Processing Time
You can apply for an H-1B visa using the regular application process or premium processing.
- Under regular processing, the average time frame is 3.8 months, according to USCIS data
- The H-1B premium processing service, on the other hand, guarantees a processing time of 15 calendar days before you receive a decision on your petition. It is a special service that costs an extra fee of $2,805. For those who can afford it, the premium processing service is an efficient way of expediting the process, especially if you want to resume your H-1B job without delay.
Important: After the form I-130 is processed, you still must wait until October 1st before you can start working under H-1B status, as mandated by USCIS policy, unless you are working for a cap-exempt company.
The H-1B premium processing service, on the other hand, guarantees a processing time of 15 calendar days before you receive a decision on your petition.
However, premium processing does not increase your chances of approval or selection in the H-1B lottery, and it does not change the fact that all cap-subject petitions that are selected are not effective until October 1st of that same year. Therefore, it is important to speak with your immigration attorney to determine if premium processing is appropriate for your situation.
H-1B Registration System
The lottery process is conducted to randomly select eligible applicants in a series of two rounds. In the first round, USCIS randomly selects 65,000 eligible applicants from the regular H-1B cap (foreign workers with a Bachelor’s degree and higher). In the second round, 20,000 are selected from applicants with a U.S. Master’s degree or higher from eligible universities or institutions.
The fees are outlined below:
Only the selected registrations from the lottery will be eligible to file a complete petition. The H-1B visa processing commences earlier than April to allow petitioners enough time to complete their registrations.
It is recommended that you start gathering your documents to ensure that every necessary item is ready so that you can promptly and effectively file your application.
Read our Definitive H-1B Guide!
Tips for Applicants for H-1B Visa Without a Degree
The process of securing an H-1B visa without a degree can be complex and unfamiliar to many. Below you will find some useful tips:
Experience letter – you can include a letter from your current or previous employer in support of your H-1B application. The letter should have the dates of your employment and with a detailed and comprehensive job description. Then you can submit your letter to an evaluation company. The evaluator must be authorized by the USCIS. The evaluator will analyze your experience and your duties during your employment. They will ultimately decide whether your experience qualifies as a four-year bachelor’s degree, and if it does, you will be able to apply for the H-1B visa.
Request for evidence (RFE) – you might be requested to provide more evidence during your application process. This is particularly true for people who apply for an H-1B visa without a degree. If you get an RFE, there is nothing to worry about, as these applications usually receive more scrutiny from USCIS. You must comply with the USCIS RFE requirements and provide them with all the necessary evidential documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for an H-1B without a master’s degree?
Yes, you absolutely can! This entire guide outlines the requirements for obtaining an H-1B without a degree.
Can you apply for H-1B and green card at the same time?
Since the H-1B visa is considered “dual intent” you can apply concurrently. See the section above about the process to obtain a green card.
Can I apply for an H-1B without a STEM degree?
You don’t need to have a STEM degree to apply for an H-1B visa but it’s important to show that you have the qualifications for the job that you are hired for within the “specialty occupation”.
Why Choose VisaNation Law Group’s H-1B Visa Lawyers
Our dedicated immigration attorneys specialize in H-1B visas and employment immigration. They have an excellent track record of success in complex new H-1B and transfer/extension cases. Ask us about our highly competitive flat fee for H-1B filing.
If you were selected in the 2025-26 H-1B visa lottery, contact VisaNation attorneys for filing your H-1B petition.
Schedule a consultation today and speak with VisaNation’s H-1B visa lawyers. Contact us to learn how we can help you get approval of your H-1B petition in a timely and efficient manner.
Related H-1B Topics
- H-1B to Green Card
- H-1B Visa Requirements
- H-1B Benefits
- H-1B Visa Process
- H-1B Visa Processing Fees
- H-1B Visa Documents
- H-1B Processing Time
- H-1B Annual Cap
- H-1B Visa Stamping
- H-1B Visa Transfer
- H-1B Transfer Premium Processing
- H-1B Visa Extension
- H-1B Dependent Employer
- H-1B Lottery Predictions
- H-1B for Nurses
- H-1B for Doctors
- H-1B for Teachers
- H-1B Cap Exempt
- H-1B Grace Period
- H-1B Interview
- L-1 vs H-1B
- H-1B Transfer Denied