Apply for a U.S. visa for specialty occupations (H-1B) in Kosovo

Someone coming to work in a specialty occupation, with at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in it. It also covers fashion models of distinguished merit and work on a Department of Defense research project.^6,4

Your employer. It pays USCIS $780 for the I-129 ($730 online), an Asylum Program Fee of $600, a fraud prevention fee of $500 for a first H-1B or a new employer, an ACWIA fee of $1,500 or $750, and $215 for the registration when the petition is subject to the cap. Small employers and nonprofits pay $460 for the I-129.^8,4

It files a Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor, promising to pay you at least what similar U.S. workers or the prevailing wage get, whichever is higher. The Department reviews it within 7 working days; it can be filed at most 6 months before the job starts.^4,23,5,7

Visas to work in the United States for a fixed period. H-1B is for a specialty occupation that needs at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. H-2A is for temporary or seasonal farm work, H-2B for other temporary or seasonal work. L-1 moves a manager, an executive or a specialist within the same company, and O-1 is for extraordinary ability or achievement.^6,24,25

Yes. Your U.S. employer files Form I-129 with USCIS, and USCIS must approve it before you can apply. Only the employer can file it, not a relative. For H-1B, H-2A and H-2B the employer first gets a certification from the Department of Labor. After approval USCIS sends the employer a Notice of Action, Form I-797, and you book the interview with the receipt number on it.^6,7,4,26

For some petitions. Under the President’s Proclamation, an H-1B petition for a worker outside the United States without a valid H-1B visa must come with an extra $100,000 payment, paid by the employer before filing. A court has since vacated the guidance that applied it; DHS complies for now and still plans to collect it if the order is lifted. Valid H-1B visas are not affected.⁴

Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21: on H-4 with an H worker, L-2 with L, O-3 with O. On H-4 and O-3 they may not work; some H-4 spouses of H-1B workers who have started the green card process may apply for a work permit. An L-2 spouse may work. You must show you can support them financially.^6,4,26,24,25

$205 to the U.S. Department of State, and €10 to DHL to bring your passport home. Your employer pays USCIS $780 for the I-129, or $730 online, plus an Asylum Program Fee of $600 and, for a first H-1B, a fraud prevention fee of $500.^2,3,8

Online or at VFS. Online with a debit or credit card, or in cash at the VFS Visa Application Center in Pristina, Lidhja e Prizrenit St., No. 20, Tophane.^13,14

$205 per applicant. It is the fee for petition-based visas. The employer’s Form I-129 petition has its own USCIS filing fee.^2,7

No. The visa application fee is non-refundable.²

In 15 days. The published wait for petition-based (H, L, O, P, Q) interviews in Pristina, when last updated on October 21, 2026.²²

Generally no. Apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country of your nationality or where you live, and be able to show you live there if that is why you apply there. Elsewhere it may be more difficult to qualify, and the fee is not refunded or transferred.²⁷

On the State Department’s Visa Status Check, at ceac.state.gov. Choose your visa type, then enter your passport number and the first five letters of your surname.²⁸

No. Any claim that someone can guarantee a visa is fraudulent. A consular officer decides at the interview whether you qualify.²⁹

You may reapply. After a refusal under section 214(b), you submit a new application, pay the fee again, and must be able to show significant changes in your circumstances since your last application.³⁰