H-1B1 vs H-1B: What Is the Difference?
The H-1B1 is a separate visa for citizens of Singapore and Chile only. It skips the lottery and is granted one year at a time, while the H-1B is open to everyone, needs a lottery for most new jobs and lasts up to three years at a time. The biggest practical difference is green cards: the H-1B allows immigrant intent and the H-1B1 does not.
Every job is from an employer that filed H1Bs in 2025. See which ones fit your resume.
Side by side
- Who: H-1B1 is for Singapore and Chile citizens. H-1B is open to any nationality.
- Lottery: H-1B1 has none in practice. Most new H-1B jobs need a lottery win.
- Cap: H-1B1 has 5,400 for Singapore and 1,400 for Chile, carved out of the H-1B cap.
- Paperwork from abroad: H-1B1 needs an LCA and a visa interview. H-1B needs an LCA, a USCIS petition and then the visa.
- Length: H-1B1 is one year at a time. H-1B is up to three years at a time, usually six in total.
- Portability: H-1B workers can start with a new employer once a petition is filed. H-1B1 workers cannot.
- Intent: H-1B allows immigrant intent. H-1B1 does not.
Is there an H1B2?
Not as a visa for a country. USCIS uses H-1B2 for Department of Defense research and development projects, and H-1B3 for fashion models. People searching for "H1B2" usually mean the H-1B1.
| Employer | H-1B filings | Transfers | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.Com Services LLC | 14,047 | 2,382 | $155k |
| Cognizant Technology Solutions US CorpGC frozen | 10,209 | 872 | $110k |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 9,808 | 269 | $143k |
| Google LLC | 7,899 | 844 | $186k |
| Microsoft CorporationGC frozen | 7,840 | 879 | $173k |
| Tata Consultancy Services LimitedGC frozen | 7,287 | 353 | $86k |
Cost to the employer
From abroad, H-1B1 employers file only the LCA, which has no government fee. You pay the visa application fee.
H-1B employers file a USCIS petition with several fees. New H-1B petitions for workers outside the US were also hit by the September 2025 $100,000 payment, which the US Embassy in Singapore said does not apply to the H-1B1. As of October 2026, H-1B collection is paused by court order. See the $100,000 fee guide.
Green cards
Because the H-1B1 requires temporary intent, starting a green card can complicate yearly renewals, especially at an embassy. Many people switch to H-1B before the employer files PERM or the I-485.
Read H-1B to green card for the steps, and check green card sponsors for employers that file PERM.
Switching from H-1B1 to H-1B
Your employer registers you in the March H-1B lottery. If you are selected, it files a change of status to start October 1, and you stay on H-1B1 until then.
Since the FY 2027 season, the lottery gives more entries to higher wage levels. See the wage-based lottery. USCIS has said a change of status granted inside the US is not subject to the $100,000 payment.
Which one to use
If you are a Singapore or Chile citizen and want to start soon, the H-1B1 is usually the faster route. If you expect to pursue a green card, plan an H-1B registration early.
To find employers, start with H-1B1 sponsors and H1B sponsors. Our H-1B1 guide covers costs and terms.
Not legal advice
This is general information as of October 21, 2026, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm your situation with an immigration attorney.
Questions
Is the H-1B1 the same as the H-1B?
No. It uses the same labor condition application, but it is only for Singapore and Chile citizens, has no lottery and lasts one year at a time.
Is the H-1B1 a dual intent visa?
No. The law exempts H-1B workers from the immigrant intent presumption, but expressly not H-1B1 workers.
Can I switch from H-1B1 to H-1B?
Yes. Your employer registers you in the H-1B lottery, and if you are selected it files a change of status while you stay on H-1B1.
Does the $100,000 fee apply to the H-1B1?
The US Embassy in Singapore said in September 2025 that it does not. It applies to certain new H-1B petitions.
Can an H-1B1 lead to a green card?
Yes, but because H-1B1 requires temporary intent, many people move to H-1B before the main green card filings.
Sources
- 8 U.S.C. 1184 (INA 214): E-3 and H-1B1 numerical limits
- Temple University ISSS: H-1B1 Status for Nationals of Chile and Singapore
- U.S. Department of Labor WHD Fact Sheet 62X: H-1B1
- Asia News Network: US Embassy says H-1B1 not subject to $100,000 fee (Sept. 2025)
- USCIS: H-1B FAQ on the proclamation
- USCIS: Form G-1055 Fee Schedule
