{
  "id": "visa/us-h1b-cap-exempt-confusion",
  "signature": "AI tells a foreign national they can work in the US on an H-1B cap-exempt visa without a lottery, but fails to clarify that only certain employers (universities, nonprofits, government research) qualify, and that a change of status to cap-exempt still requires filing a new petition",
  "signature_zh": "AI告诉外籍人士他们可以在美国以H-1B免抽签签证工作而无需抽签，但未说明只有特定雇主（大学、非营利组织、政府研究机构）符合资格，且身份变更仍需提交新申请",
  "regex": "H-1B\\s*cap[-\\s]?exempt|cap\\s*exempt\\s*H-1B|免抽签\\s*H-1B",
  "domain": "visa",
  "category": "regulatory_barrier",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "H-1B cap-exempt status is tied to the employer type (institution of higher education, nonprofit affiliated with such, or government research organization), not to the employee's job or skills; a change of employer or job requires a new petition even if cap-exempt",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "H-1B免抽签资格与雇主类型（高等教育机构、其附属非营利组织或政府研究机构）挂钩，而非员工的工作或技能；更换雇主或工作即使免抽签也需重新提交申请",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "USCIS Policy Manual Volume 2 Part H",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "H-1B Cap Exempt Employer List 2024",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "",
      "why_fails": "Only institutions of higher education, affiliated nonprofits, and government research orgs are explicitly exempt per INA 214(g)(5); a generic startup does not qualify",
      "fail_rate": 0.75,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "",
      "why_fails": "Cap-exempt petitions still require a Form I-129 with all supporting documents and fees; the lottery is avoided but the full petition process remains",
      "fail_rate": 0.6,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "",
      "why_fails": "H-1B is employer-specific; any change of employer requires a new I-129 petition, even if both are cap-exempt",
      "fail_rate": 0.8,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "Verify employer cap-exempt status using the USCIS Employer Data Hub: https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-and-studies/employer-data-hub. Filter by NAICS code for education or research.",
      "success_rate": 0.85,
      "how": "Verify employer cap-exempt status using the USCIS Employer Data Hub: https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-and-studies/employer-data-hub. Filter by NAICS code for education or research.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "If cap-exempt, file Form I-129 with premium processing (I-907) to get 15-day adjudication. Include evidence of employer's qualifying status (e.g., accreditation letter, nonprofit tax exemption).",
      "success_rate": 0.9,
      "how": "If cap-exempt, file Form I-129 with premium processing (I-907) to get 15-day adjudication. Include evidence of employer's qualifying status (e.g., accreditation letter, nonprofit tax exemption).",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "For concurrent employment, file a separate I-129 for each cap-exempt employer; ensure no overlap violates status conditions.",
      "success_rate": 0.8,
      "how": "For concurrent employment, file a separate I-129 for each cap-exempt employer; ensure no overlap violates status conditions.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [
    "Verify employer cap-exempt status using the USCIS Employer Data Hub: https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-and-studies/employer-data-hub. Filter by NAICS code for education or research.",
    "If cap-exempt, file Form I-129 with premium processing (I-907) to get 15-day adjudication. Include evidence of employer's qualifying status (e.g., accreditation letter, nonprofit tax exemption).",
    "For concurrent employment, file a separate I-129 for each cap-exempt employer; ensure no overlap violates status conditions."
  ],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": "https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/h-1b-cap-exempt-employers",
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": "H1B_CAP_EXEMPT",
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.85,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.8,
  "resolvable": "partial",
  "first_seen": "2024-03-15",
  "last_confirmed": "2024-06-01",
  "last_updated": "2024-06-01",
  "evidence_count": 1,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": []
}