H1-B holders are essentially indentured to their employers, since their legal right to remain and work in the United States depends on their employment. H-1B allows applicants with professional or specialized employment backgrounds to obtain employment in the U.S. for an initial three year period.
Applicants can obtain a three year extension for a total stay of six years.
The H-1B employer must first obtain a Labor Condition Application on behalf of the applicant from Department of Labor before petition can be filed. H-1B admits people haphazardly into the country, then fails to grant them full rights as potential citizens. The result is a vulnerable caste of workers laboring in the hope of getting green cards and serving as a base of cheaper labor to replace workers who companies don't want to pay to retrain. The Green Card is a U.S. visa for permanent residency . The green card process takes 5 years or more.