Entering the U.S. for H-1B Employment
Before Departing Your Country
- Receive your H-1B approval notice from International Services
- Schedule an H-1B interview with the U.S. embassy or consulate
Do not schedule your interview until you have received your approval notice - Secure a valid H-1B visa and other required entry documents
Canadian citizens are exempt from the H-1B visa requirement - Make travel arrangements. Do not make travel reservations until you have your H-1B visa
At Port of Entry
- Enter the United States in H-1B status
You may arrive no earlier than 10 days before the start date printed on your USCIS H-1B approval notice and up to 10 days after the petition validity period. (Whether the 10-day post-petition period is granted is up to the discretion of the officer at port of entry.) You cannot be employed during either of these 10-day periods. - Enter as an H-1B employee with H-1B documents, even if you are from a country in the visa waiver program or on another visa
You will need your H1-B visa for employment in the United States. Do NOT enter as a visa waiver program participant. - When the immigration officer returns your passport to you after inspection, check the entry stamp immediately
If there is a mistake (for example, if the authorized end date is earlier than the expiration date in your H-1B approval notice), ask the immigration officer to make the correction right away.
Immediately upon Entry into the U.S.
- Print your I-94 information and check expiration date
- Upload the following documents into iVandal
- I-94 printout
- Your passport or renewed passport (if applicable)
- H-1B visa (if applicable)
- Passport page with entry stamp showing H-1B status and the expiration date
- Original copy of your H-1B approval notice