The H-1B visa remains the primary pathway for Full-Stack Developers seeking U.S. employment—but 2025's policy shifts have transformed the application landscape. According to a 2025 analysis of 2023 data from the American Immigration Council, nearly 65% of H-1B holders had computer-related jobs, and full-stack development ranks among the top 100 H-1B job titles. Understanding the new rules is critical for both developers and their sponsoring employers. Alma's H-1B visa services help Full-Stack Developers and companies prepare strong petitions with a 99%+ approval rate—combining attorney expertise with technology to make the process stress-free.
The H-1B is a temporary work visa for "specialty occupations" requiring at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Full-stack development meets this threshold because the role demands theoretical and practical knowledge typically gained through formal computer science education—not short-term bootcamps or self-taught skills alone.
What makes full-stack development a specialty occupation:
According to KodNest's analysis, employers must demonstrate that the position requires this combination of specialized skills—articulating why bootcamp training alone wouldn't suffice. The petition must show that the job duties align with the candidate's educational background in computer science or a related engineering field.
The minimum requirement is a U.S. bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent in computer science, software engineering, or a directly related field. USCIS evaluates:
Your employer must file a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor before submitting the H-1B petition, certifying:
For STEM professionals like full-stack developers, documenting the technical complexity of the role strengthens the specialty occupation argument. Include specific technologies, project responsibilities, and reporting structures in the petition.
The annual H-1B cap limits regular petitions to 65,000 visas, with an additional 20,000 reserved for candidates with U.S. master's degrees or higher. Since demand far exceeds supply—For the FY 2025 cap season, USCIS received 470,342 eligible registrations for roughly 85,000 slots—USCIS conducts a selection process each spring.
Key lottery facts for full-stack developers:
Alma's immigration services include guided workflows and a guaranteed 2-week document turnaround, helping full-stack developers and employers meet critical filing deadlines with properly documented petitions.
The September 2025 policy changes dramatically altered the H-1B cost structure. The $100,000 supplemental fee was implemented effective 12:01 a.m. EDT on September 21, 2025, via Presidential Proclamation, applying to new H-1B petitions for workers located outside the United States.
Who pays the $100,000 fee:
Who is exempt:
Note on cap-exempt employers: Universities, nonprofits, and research institutions are not automatically exempt from the $100,000 fee. They may apply for discretionary national interest exceptions, though USCIS guidance describes these as "extraordinarily rare."
Standard government fees apply in addition to any supplemental fee. The I-129 Petition Fee is $780, while the Fraud Prevention Fee adds $500. The ACWIA Fee depends on employer size: $1,500 for companies with 26 or more full-time equivalent employees, or $750 for those with 25 or fewer. Employers seeking faster adjudication can pay an optional Premium Processing fee of $2,805, and H-1B-dependent employers (50+ employees with 50%+ H-1B/L-1 workers) must pay an additional Public Law 114-113 Fee of $4,000.
Alma's H-1B pricing offers transparent, flat-rate fees:
These fees cover attorney preparation, paralegal support, platform access, and administrative costs including FedEx, printing, and postage. USCIS filing fees are separate and refunded in full if a case doesn't proceed.
Full-stack developers remain in high demand across the U.S. tech sector. Forbes reports that Amazon led FY 2025 H-1B approvals with 4,644 workers, followed by Meta, Microsoft, and Google—all companies that heavily recruit full-stack talent.
The denial rate for H-1B petitions for initial employment was 2.8% in FY 2025, indicating USCIS receptivity to well-prepared technology worker petitions.
Salary positioning has become critical under the new wage-based selection system. According to USCIS FY 2023 Congressional reporting, the median H-1B compensation was $118,000, with computer-related occupations averaging $132,000 nationally. Regional variations include:
Experience-based salary ranges:
Under the new selection system, these salary differences translate directly into lottery odds—making compensation negotiation a strategic immigration decision, not just an employment matter.
A new wage-based selection rule, effective February 27, 2026, will replace the random lottery. Under this system, registrations are weighted by wage level, with projected selection odds varying significantly by Department of Labor wage tier. Registrations are now entered multiple times based on wage levels:
These are projected selection rates based on the weighting system and mathematical modeling. Actual selection rates will vary annually depending on the distribution of registrations across wage levels each fiscal year.
For Silicon Valley full-stack developers, FY 2026 wage levels range from $135,700 (Level I) to $213,512 (Level IV).
The shift from random selection to wage-based weighting creates winners and losers:
Alma's business immigration platform includes built-in trackers and proactive alerts that help HR teams stay informed about policy changes and compliance requirements affecting their H-1B workforce.
H-1B status initially grants up to three years, extendable to a maximum of six years. Extensions beyond six years are possible while an employment-based green card petition is pending.
When you need to file:
Documentation requirements include updated LCA, new offer letter, and evidence the position still qualifies as a specialty occupation.
H-1B portability allows you to begin work for a new employer once they file an H-1B transfer petition—you don't need to wait for approval. Key considerations:
Alma offers H-1B Extension/Change services at $3,000, covering the complete petition process with expert attorney guidance.
The H-1B is temporary—permanent residency requires a separate process. For full-stack developers, primary green card pathways include:
EB-2/EB-3 via PERM:
The challenge: An estimated 395,000 to 400,000 approved I-140 petitions are waiting for visa availability according to immigration policy analysts, with Indian nationals facing 12-15 year waits for EB-2 green cards. This backlog has made alternative pathways increasingly attractive.
O-1 extraordinary ability visas offer advantages as a stepping stone:
For full-stack developers with strong profiles (open-source contributions, conference speaking, published articles, patents), the O-1 + EB-1A pathway often provides faster permanent residency than the traditional H-1B + PERM route.
The complexity of H-1B regulations—particularly after 2025's changes—makes experienced legal guidance essential. Small entities file 76% of H-1B petitions, yet many lack in-house immigration expertise.
What to look for in an immigration attorney:
Alma combines seasoned attorneys with technology to deliver immigration services with speed, excellence, and care. For full-stack developers and their employers, this means:
Whether you're a full-stack developer exploring your first H-1B or a company managing multiple foreign national employees, Alma's immigration services provide the personalized support and legal expertise to strengthen your case from start to approval.
No—H-1B visas require employer sponsorship. The petitioning company must demonstrate a valid employer-employee relationship, meaning you cannot file for yourself even if you own a business. Alternatives for self-employed developers include the O-1 visa (with an agent sponsor) or EB-2 NIW green card, which allows self-petition for permanent residency without employer involvement.
A denial doesn't immediately end your work authorization if you held prior valid status. You may have options including filing a motion to reopen or reconsider, having your employer appeal, or pursuing alternative visa categories. If you're on F-1 OPT, denial typically means returning to your OPT status until it expires. Alma includes RFE response preparation in all H-1B service packages, and Growth/Enterprise business plans include one free refile in case of initial denial.
If your employer files a timely H-1B petition while you're on OPT, your work authorization automatically extends through April 1 of the following calendar year—even if your OPT would otherwise expire. This "cap-gap" protection prevents employment interruption while your petition is pending. The extension applies only if the petition is filed on time and you maintain valid F-1 status throughout the process.
Premium processing ($2,805) guarantees a response within 15 business days (approximately three weeks) versus standard processing timeframes. It's worth considering when your start date is time-sensitive, you're changing employers and need quick approval to begin work, or you're on a visa that expires before regular processing would complete. The fee is paid by the employer, not the employee.
H-1B status requires physical presence in the United States. Extended remote work from abroad can jeopardize your status and complicate reentry. Short business trips are generally acceptable, but working full-time from another country for months raises compliance concerns.
