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Annual Caps for H-1B for Fiscal Years: 85,000 visas
- 65,000 visas
- 20,000 visas for the master’s cap*
The master’s cap – individuals with advanced degrees from U.S. institutions.
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H-1B1 Visa Program: Chile and Singapore
A pathway for Chilean and Singaporean professionals to work in the U.S.
H-1B1 Annual Cap
The H-1B1 visa program reserves a total of 6,800 visas per year, divided as follows:
- 1,400 visas for Chile
- 5,400 visas for Singapore
This annual “cap” applies to new entries each fiscal year - not total issuances. Because renewals and multiple entries for existing holders don’t count toward the cap, the number of visas issued may exceed 6,800.
🇨🇱 🇸🇬 Unused Visa Rollovers
If one country doesn’t use its full quota, the unused slots roll over to the other country. This happens frequently - Singapore rarely uses all 5,400 spots, leaving extra visas available for Chilean professionals.
👉 Below, you can explore a table showing the H-1B1 approvals by year (from 2004 to today).
H-1B1 Program Highlights
- Exclusive to citizens of Chile and Singapore.
- No lottery and no fixed filing window - apply any time of the year.
- Applications are filed directly at a U.S. consulate (Singapore or Chile) after obtaining a certified Labor Condition Application (LCA).
- Designed for temporary professional work in the U.S.
- Initial stay: up to 18 month.
- High approval rates and renewable indefinitely in one-year increments.
- Self-employment or independent contracting is not allowed.
- Holders can live in the U.S. long-term through continuous renewals.
- No dual intent - applicants must prove plans to return home.
- Transition to a green card typically requires switching to H-1B or another visa first.
H-1B1 Visa Application Guide
Here’s an overview of how the process works 👇
1. Make sure you’re eligible
– Be a citizen of Chile or Singapore (not just a resident).
– Have a job offer from a U.S. employer in a specialty occupation - a role that normally requires a bachelor’s degree or higher in a specific field.
– Have the required education and credentials.
– Intend to work temporarily in the U.S.
2. Your U.S. employer files a Labor Condition Application (LCA)
– Your U.S. employer submits Form ETA-9035 to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for certification - usually completed within 7 days.
– Once approved, your employer will give you a copy of the certified LCA, which you’ll need for your visa interview.
3. Apply for the H-1B1 visa
– Next, complete the DS-160 (the online non-immigrant visa application), pay the US $205 visa fee, and schedule your interview at the U.S. consulate in Chile or Singapore.
– Bring these documents to your appointment: your valid passport, DS-160 confirmation page, visa appointment confirmation, certified LCA (Form ETA-9035), job offer letter from your U.S. employer, proof of education and experience, proof of citizenship (Chilean or Singaporean), etc.
👉 Always double-check the U.S. Embassy website for the most up-to-date requirements before your appointment.
4. Attend your visa interview
– Most applicants hear back quickly - if approved, you’ll usually get your visa within 5-10 business days.
5. Arrive and start working in the U.S.
– When you arrive, you’ll receive an I-94 record marked “H-1B1”, valid for up to one year.
🌎 H-1B1: Origins and Purpose
The H-1B1 visa - often referred to as the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) visa - stands as a symbol of international cooperation, opportunity, and professional exchange. Established under the Free Trade Agreements between the United States and Singapore and between the United States and Chile, this visa category was created to facilitate the movement of highly skilled talent across borders.
Both agreements were ratified in 2003 by the 108th U.S. Congress, signed into law by President George W. Bush, and officially took effect on January 1, 2004. Since then, the H-1B1 visa has played a vital role in strengthening economic and professional relationships between the U.S. and its partner nations.
Unlike the traditional H-1B visa, the H-1B1 category is exclusively reserved for professionals from the two FTA nations. Each year, specific visa quotas are allocated to Chilean and Singaporean nationals, allowing U.S. employers to recruit foreign specialists through a streamlined and mutually beneficial process.
There are two separate H-1B1 visa classifications based on nationality:
- H-1B1 – Singapore, for citizens of Singapore (called the H-1B1-Singapore)
- H-1B1 – Chile, for citizens of Chile (called the H-1B1-Chile)
📊 H-1B1 Visa Approval Statistics (FY 2004 - 2025)
| Fiscal Year (FY) | 🇨🇱 Chile H-1B1 Approvals | 🇸🇬 Singapore H-1B1 Approvals | Global H-1B1 Approvals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Not yet available | Not yet available | Not yet available |
| 2024 | 2,131 | 939 | 3,070 |
| 2023 | 2,095 | 944 | 3,039 |
| 2022 | 1,449 | 927 | 2,376 |
| 2021 | 1,097 | 489 | 1,586 |
| 2020 | 546 | 537 | 1,083 |
| 2019 | 845 | 879 | 1,724 |
| 2018 | 690 | 808 | 1,498 |
| 2017 | 632 | 759 | 1,391 |
| 2016 | 609 | 685 | 1,294 |
| 2015 | 500 | 551 | 1,051 |
| 2014 | 398 | 472 | 870 |
| 2013 | 310 | 261 | 571 |
| 2012 | 249 | 212 | 461 |
| 2011 | 247 | 171 | 418 |
| 2010 | 251 | 168 | 419 |
| 2009 | 319 | 302 | 621 |
| 2008 | 308 | 411 | 719 |
| 2007 | 223 | 416 | 639 |
| 2006 | 154 | 286 | 440 |
| 2005 | 76 | 199 | 275 |
| 2004 | 26 | 46 | 72 |
The following table presents the history of H-1B1 approvals - globally, as well as separately for Chile and Singapore - from Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 to the present.