<div class="vt" data-vt-cat="work-visas" data-vt-code="H-1B1"> <div class="vt-crumbs"><nav class="vt-wrap" aria-label="Breadcrumb"><a href="/">Home</a><span>›</span><a href="/work-visas">Work & business</a><span>›</span><span>H-1B1</span></nav></div> <section class="vt-dhead"><div class="vt-wrap"> <div class="vt-badges"><span>Nonimmigrant</span><span>Employment-based</span><span>Chile and Singapore only</span><span>Annual quota</span><span>No dual intent</span></div> <h1><span>H-1B1</span> Free Trade Professional (Chile and Singapore)</h1> <p class="vt-lede">For citizens of Chile and Singapore taking a U.S. job in a specialty occupation. Workers abroad apply straight to a consulate — no USCIS petition or H-1B lottery.</p> <div class="vt-dmeta"><span>Last reviewed <strong>Oct 1, 2026</strong></span><span>Sources: DOL · U.S. Code · USCIS</span><a href="/corrections?page=/visa/h-1b1">Report an error</a></div> </div></section> <section class="vt-dbody"> <nav class="vt-jump" aria-label="On this page"><a href="#overview">Overview</a><a href="#qualify">Who qualifies</a><a href="#duration">Duration</a><a href="#fees">Fees</a><a href="#processing">Processing</a><a href="#steps">Steps</a><a href="#documents">Documents</a><a href="#dependents">Dependents</a><a href="#greencard">Green card</a><a href="#related">Related</a><a href="#faq">FAQ</a><a href="#sources">Sources</a><a href="#changes">Changes</a></nav> <nav class="vt-toc" aria-label="On this page"><div class="h">On this page</div><ul><li><a href="#overview">Overview</a></li><li><a href="#qualify">Who qualifies</a></li><li><a href="#duration">Duration & extensions</a></li><li><a href="#fees">Fees</a></li><li><a href="#processing">Processing time</a></li><li><a href="#steps">Application steps</a></li><li><a href="#documents">Required documents</a></li><li><a href="#dependents">Dependents & family</a></li><li><a href="#greencard">Path to a green card</a></li><li><a href="#related">Related visas</a></li><li><a href="#faq">Common questions</a></li><li><a href="#sources">Official sources</a></li><li><a href="#changes">Recent changes</a></li></ul></nav> <article class="vt-art"> <div class="vt-glance"><h2>At a glance</h2><dl><div><dt>Who can apply</dt><dd>Citizens of Chile or Singapore</dd></div><div><dt>Annual quota</dt><dd>1,400 Chile · 5,400 Singapore</dd></div><div><dt>Period of admission</dt><dd>1 year</dd></div><div><dt>Extensions</dt><dd>1 year at a time, no set limit</dd></div><div><dt>Labor filing</dt><dd>Certified LCA from DOL</dd></div><div><dt>Visa fee</dt><dd>$205 (MRV)</dd></div></dl></div> <div class="vt-callout"><strong>Separate from the H-1B lottery.</strong> H-1B1 numbers are <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations/h-1b-cap-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set aside from the 65,000 H-1B cap</a> each year, but there is no registration or selection: an eligible worker abroad applies directly for an H-1B1 visa at a U.S. consulate with the employer’s certified labor attestation. Unused H-1B1 numbers become available for the next year’s regular H-1B cap.</div> <h2 id="overview" class="s">Overview</h2> <p class="b">The H-1B1 classification was created by the U.S. free trade agreements with Chile and Singapore, effective <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/memos/nafta_010804.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jan. 1, 2004</a>. It is for professionals in a specialty occupation — work that requires the application of specialized knowledge and a post-secondary degree of four or more years in the field, or its equivalent.</p> <p class="b">By statute, up to <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title8/html/USCODE-2023-title8-chap12-subchapII-partII-sec1184.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1,400 Chilean and 5,400 Singaporean</a> professionals may receive H-1B1 status each fiscal year. These 6,800 numbers count against the regular H-1B cap but are reserved for H-1B1 use. Before the worker applies, the employer must get a <a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/programs/h-1b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Labor Condition Application</a> certified by the Department of Labor.</p> <p class="b">Unlike the H-1B, the H-1B1 is <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/memos/nafta_010804.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not a dual-intent classification</a>: the worker must show at each application and extension that they do not intend to remain or work in the United States permanently.</p> <h2 id="qualify" class="s">Who qualifies</h2> <h3 class="s">The worker must</h3> <ul class="b"><li>Be a national of Chile or Singapore.</li><li>Have a job offer from a U.S. employer in a specialty occupation.</li><li>Hold a post-secondary degree requiring four or more years of study in the specialty, or its equivalent.</li><li>Intend to stay temporarily and not seek to remain permanently.</li></ul> <h3 class="s">Degree alternatives allowed by the agreements</h3> <ul class="b"><li>Chile only: agricultural managers and physical therapists may qualify through other education and experience.</li><li>Chile and Singapore: disaster relief claims adjusters, and certain management consultants with a degree in another field, may qualify with alternative evidence.</li></ul> <h3 class="s">The employer must</h3> <ul class="b"><li>Obtain a certified Labor Condition Application (Form ETA-9035/9035E) from the Department of Labor.</li><li>Pay at least the required wage stated in the LCA.</li></ul> <h2 id="duration" class="s">Duration & extensions</h2> <table class="vt-kv"><tbody><tr><th scope="row">Initial admission</th><td>Up to <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title8/html/USCODE-2023-title8-chap12-subchapII-partII-sec1184.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1 year</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row">Extensions</th><td>In <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title8/html/USCODE-2023-title8-chap12-subchapII-partII-sec1184.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1-year increments</a>; the 2004 USCIS guidance says they may be extended an indefinite number of times</td></tr><tr><th scope="row">Condition</th><td>Each extension requires continued nonimmigrant intent; by <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title8/html/USCODE-2023-title8-chap12-subchapII-partII-sec1184.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statute</a>, after every second extension the next one needs a newly certified labor attestation, and extensions for workers with 5 or more consecutive prior extensions count against the H-1B cap</td></tr><tr><th scope="row">Licensing</th><td>A professional license is not a condition of admission, but state licensing rules apply once working</td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="fees" class="s">Fees</h2> <p class="vt-feesintro">Fees depend on where the worker is. Consular applicants pay the State Department visa fee; a change of status or extension in the U.S. uses Form I-129. USCIS amounts are from the <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fee schedule (Form G-1055, edition 10/01/26)</a>.</p> <div class="vt-scroll"><table class="vt-fees"><thead><tr><th>Fee</th><th class="amt">Amount</th><th>Who pays</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody> <tr><td>Visa application (MRV) fee</td><td class="amt"><a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/fees-visa-services.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$205</a></td><td>Worker</td><td>For H category visas at a consulate. A reciprocity issuance fee may apply depending on nationality.</td></tr> <tr><td>Form I-129 filing fee (in the U.S. only)</td><td class="amt"><a href="https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$780</a></td><td>Employer</td><td>$730 online; $460 (paper or online) for small employers (25 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees) and nonprofits.</td></tr> <tr><td>Asylum Program Fee (with I-129)</td><td class="amt"><a href="https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$600</a></td><td>Employer</td><td>$300 small employers; $0 nonprofits.</td></tr> <tr><td>ACWIA training fee (with I-129)</td><td class="amt"><a href="https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$1,500 or $750</a></td><td>Employer</td><td>Applies to H-1B1 petitions unless the employer is exempt; $750 for employers with 25 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees.</td></tr> <tr><td>Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee</td><td class="amt">$0</td><td>—</td><td><a href="https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Not charged</a> for Chile or Singapore H-1B1 petitions.</td></tr> <tr><td>Pub. L. 114-113 (9-11) fee</td><td class="amt">$0</td><td>—</td><td><a href="https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Does not apply</a> to H-1B1 petitions.</td></tr> </tbody></table></div> <p class="vt-foot"><a href="https://www.congress.gov/119/plaws/publ21/PLAW-119publ21.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Public Law 119-21</a> (July 4, 2025) created a Visa Integrity Fee of at least $250 on nonimmigrant visa issuance, but as of Oct. 1, 2026 it does not appear on the State Department’s <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/fees-visa-services.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">visa fees page</a>. The $100,000 H-1B proclamation is written for H-1B workers under INA §101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b), and its implementing guidance is in any case vacated by court order as of Oct. 1, 2026.</p> <h2 id="processing" class="s">Processing time</h2> <dl class="vt-cards"><div><dt>LCA review (DOL)</dt><dd>7 working days</dd><dd class="n"><a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/programs/h-1b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DOL reviews</a> LCAs for completeness and obvious errors.</dd></div><div><dt>Earliest LCA filing</dt><dd>6 months before start</dd><dd class="n">LCAs cannot be submitted earlier than that.</dd></div></dl> <p class="b">Consular wait times vary by post. In-U.S. Form I-129 filings follow regular <a href="https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USCIS processing times</a>; H-1B1 is not separately listed among the classifications on USCIS’s premium processing page.</p> <h2 id="steps" class="s">Application steps</h2> <ol class="vt-steps"><li><span class="num">1</span><div><div class="tt">Job offer</div><div class="tx">A U.S. employer offers a specialty-occupation job to a Chilean or Singaporean national.</div></div></li><li><span class="num">2</span><div><div class="tt">LCA certification</div><div class="tx">The employer files the LCA with the Department of Labor, indicating the H-1B1 classification.</div></div></li><li><span class="num">3</span><div><div class="tt">Visa application</div><div class="tx">The worker completes Form DS-160, pays the visa fee and generally <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/temporary-worker-visas.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interviews</a> at a U.S. embassy or consulate with the job offer letter, degree evidence and certified LCA. H-1B1 is not petition-based; the U.S. embassies in Chile and Singapore publish the local procedures.</div></div></li><li><span class="num">4</span><div><div class="tt">Admission</div><div class="tx">The worker is admitted in H-1B1 status for up to one year.</div></div></li><li><span class="num">5</span><div><div class="tt">Extend or change status in the U.S.</div><div class="tx">For extensions or a change into H-1B1 from another status, the employer files Form I-129 with USCIS.</div></div></li></ol> <h2 id="documents" class="s">Required documents</h2> <div class="vt-docs"><div><h3>From the employer</h3><ul><li><span>Job offer letter describing the duties, length of stay and pay</span></li><li><span>Certified Labor Condition Application</span></li><li><span>Form I-129 (only for in-U.S. extensions or changes of status)</span></li></ul></div><div><h3>From the worker</h3><ul><li><span>Chilean or Singaporean passport</span></li><li><span>Degree and transcripts, or evidence for one of the degree alternatives</span></li><li><span>Evidence of ties showing temporary intent</span></li></ul></div></div> <h2 id="dependents" class="s">Dependents & family</h2> <p class="b">Spouses and unmarried children under 21 may accompany or join the worker in <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2025-title8-vol1/xml/CFR-2025-title8-vol1-sec214-2.xml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">H-4 status</a>. H-4 dependents may not work; the H-4 employment authorization rules apply only to spouses of certain H-1B workers.</p> <h2 id="greencard" class="s">Path to a green card</h2> <p class="b">H-1B1 does not allow dual intent, so starting a green card process can conflict with the requirement to show temporary intent at the next extension or visa application.</p> <p class="b">People planning to immigrate often move to a dual-intent classification such as H-1B, or pursue an immigrant petition timed with that in mind. Individual advice from a qualified attorney is the usual route.</p> <h2 id="related" class="s">Related visas</h2> <div class="vt-rel"><a href="/visa/h-1b"><div class="c">H-1B</div><div class="n">Specialty occupation worker</div><div class="tx">The general version, open to all nationalities; dual intent.</div></a><a href="/visa/e-3"><div class="c">E-3</div><div class="n">Australian specialty workers</div><div class="tx">A comparable treaty-based route for Australians.</div></a><a href="/visa/tn"><div class="c">TN</div><div class="n">USMCA professionals</div><div class="tx">Treaty work status for Canadians and Mexicans.</div></a><a href="/visa/e-2"><div class="c">E-2</div><div class="n">Treaty investor</div><div class="tx">Chile and Singapore are also E treaty countries.</div></a></div> <h2 id="faq" class="s">Common questions</h2> <div class="vt-faq"><details><summary>Do H-1B1 applicants enter the H-1B lottery?</summary><p>No. Up to 1,400 Chilean and 5,400 Singaporean professionals a year can get H-1B1 status without registration or selection. The worker applies directly at a consulate with a certified LCA.</p></details><details><summary>Can an H-1B1 worker apply for a green card?</summary><p>There is no dual-intent protection, so the worker must show temporary intent at every extension and visa application. Pursuing permanent residence can make that difficult.</p></details><details><summary>How long can I stay?</summary><p>Admission is for up to one year at a time, and extensions are granted in one-year increments for as long as the worker keeps qualifying and keeps nonimmigrant intent.</p></details><details><summary>Does the $100,000 H-1B payment apply?</summary><p>The proclamation is written for H-1B specialty-occupation workers, and the agency guidance implementing it was vacated by a court on June 8, 2026. It is not being collected as of Oct. 1, 2026.</p></details></div> <h2 id="sources" class="s">Official sources</h2> <ul class="vt-src"><li><a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/programs/h-1b" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span><strong>DOL</strong> · H-1B, H-1B1 and E-3 Specialty (Professional) Workers</span><span>dol.gov ↗</span></a></li><li><a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title8/html/USCODE-2023-title8-chap12-subchapII-partII-sec1184.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span><strong>U.S. Code</strong> · 8 U.S.C. §1184 (INA §214)</span><span>govinfo.gov ↗</span></a></li><li><a href="https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/memos/nafta_010804.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span><strong>USCIS</strong> · Memo: Free Trade Agreements with Chile and Singapore (Jan. 8, 2004)</span><span>uscis.gov ↗</span></a></li><li><a href="https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations/h-1b-cap-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span><strong>USCIS</strong> · H-1B Cap Season</span><span>uscis.gov ↗</span></a></li><li><a href="https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span><strong>USCIS</strong> · Fee Schedule (Form G-1055)</span><span>uscis.gov ↗</span></a></li><li><a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/fees-visa-services.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span><strong>State Department</strong> · Fees for Visa Services</span><span>travel.state.gov ↗</span></a></li></ul> <h2 id="changes" class="s">Recent changes</h2> <ul class="vt-chg"><li><span class="d">Sep 11, 2026</span><div class="x"><strong>Proposal to end the 60-day grace period.</strong> Proposed rule to remove 8 CFR 214.1(l)(2), which gives H-1B1 and certain other workers up to 60 days after employment ends. Comments close Nov. 10, 2026; not final. <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/11/2026-18631/eliminating-the-discretionary-60-day-grace-period" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source ↗</a></div></li><li><span class="d">Sep 9, 2026</span><div class="x"><strong>New Form I-129 edition.</strong> USCIS published the 09/09/26 edition of Form I-129; only this edition is accepted from Nov. 9, 2026. <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/i-129" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source ↗</a></div></li><li><span class="d">Mar 27, 2026</span><div class="x"><strong>Proposed higher prevailing wage levels.</strong> Proposed rule to recompute the four OEWS wage levels used for LCAs, including H-1B1 LCAs. Comments closed May 26, 2026; not yet final. <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/27/2026-06017/improving-wage-protections-for-the-temporary-and-permanent-employment-of-certain-foreign-nationals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source ↗</a></div></li><li><span class="d">Jul 4, 2025</span><div class="x"><strong>Visa Integrity Fee enacted.</strong> Public Law 119-21 requires a fee of at least $250 at issuance of any nonimmigrant visa, with possible reimbursement for compliant visa holders. <a href="https://www.congress.gov/119/plaws/publ21/PLAW-119publ21.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source ↗</a></div></li><li><span class="d">Apr 1, 2024</span><div class="x"><strong>New USCIS fee schedule.</strong> Form I-129 fee for H-1B1 set at $780 ($460 small employers/nonprofits) and the Asylum Program Fee added. <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees/frequently-asked-questions-on-the-uscis-fee-rule" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source ↗</a></div></li></ul> <div class="vt-disc">This page is general reference material compiled from the official sources above and is not legal advice. Eligibility depends on individual facts; rules and fees change, so confirm with the agency before you file. VisaTypes.com is not affiliated with USCIS, the Department of State or any government agency. Spotted an error? <a href="/corrections?page=/visa/h-1b1">Tell us</a>.</div> </article></section></div> <script type="application/ld+json">[{"\u0040context": "https://schema.org", "\u0040type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [{"\u0040type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://visatypes.com/"}, {"\u0040type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Work & business", "item": "https://visatypes.com/work-visas"}, {"\u0040type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "H-1B1", "item": "https://visatypes.com/visa/h-1b1"}]}, {"\u0040context": "https://schema.org", "\u0040type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [{"\u0040type": "Question", "name": "Do H-1B1 applicants enter the H-1B lottery?", "acceptedAnswer": {"\u0040type": "Answer", "text": "No. Up to 1,400 Chilean and 5,400 Singaporean professionals a year can get H-1B1 status without registration or selection. 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