Document Checklist
H-1B Visa Document Checklist (2026): Petition & Stamping
An H-1B application has two distinct document sets: what your employer files with USCIS in the petition (Form I-129), and what you personally bring to your consular stamping interview once the petition is approved. Since nearly all H-1B applicants must now attend an in-person interview in their home country, arriving with a complete, organized folder matters more than ever — officers form judgments quickly, and a missing document forces administrative processing instead of same-day issuance.
Employer-filed petition documents (Form I-129)
- Certified Labor Condition Application (LCA)DOL-certified ETA-9035, confirming prevailing wage and worksite.
- Form I-129, current editionUSCIS rejects outdated form versions — confirm the current edition date before filing.
- Employer support letterDescribing the company, the specific role, salary, and why it qualifies as a specialty occupation.
- Evidence the employer is a real, operating businessBusiness registration, tax documents, client contracts for consulting/staffing arrangements.
- Filing fee receiptsBase filing fee, ACWIA fee, fraud prevention fee, and — for covered large employers — the Biometric Entry-Exit Fee introduced September 2026.
Beneficiary identity and qualification evidence
- Valid passportValid at least six months beyond your intended stay.
- Degree certificates and transcriptsUS bachelor's or higher, or a foreign-equivalent degree with credential evaluation if required.
- Evidence of specialty-occupation fitJob description mapped to your degree major and, where relevant, professional licenses.
- Prior H-1B approval notices (Form I-797)If this is a renewal, extension, or transfer — include every prior approval, not just the most recent.
- Resume/CV matching the petition's stated experienceConsistency with the I-129 and LCA is checked closely.
Consular interview day (DS-160 stage)
- DS-160 confirmation pageWith the barcode the consular officer will scan.
- Interview appointment confirmation
- Approved I-129 petition and I-797 approval noticeOriginal or certified copy.
- Certified LCA copy
- Recent pay stubs or offer letterShowing the exact salary stated on the LCA.
- Employer letter reconfirming the role, worksite and reporting structure
- One passport-style photoMeeting the US 2x2 inch specification, if not already uploaded with the DS-160.
- Visa fee (MRV) payment receipt
Tips
- Book your interview in your country of nationality or last residence — third-country H-1B stamping was eliminated in September 2025.
- Make sure your stated salary, job title, and worksite are identical across your I-129, LCA, offer letter, and pay stubs — mismatches are the most common cause of administrative processing.
- Bring every prior H-1B approval notice if this is a renewal, not just the latest one, to establish a clean continuous record.
- Expect expanded digital vetting, including social media review — apply well ahead of any planned start date given current consular backlogs.
Requirements change — always confirm the current list with the official source before you submit.
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