H-1B Filing & Petition in San Francisco — Bay Area Employers
San Francisco employers file H-1B petitions after LCA certification for the SF-Oakland-Berkeley MSA, then submit Form I-129. h1bfiling.com: flat $2,999 petition prep, candidate portal, lawyer review.
San Francisco ranks top-5 nationally with 4,626 H-1B petitions in FY 2026 Q2.
MSA: San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA · All CA H-1B cities →
Filing an H-1B transfer in San Francisco?
Change-of-employer guide for HR — timeline, documents, and flat-fee filing.
We handle every step — H-1B filing in San Francisco
- 1
Create employer account
We onboard your company for San Francisco, CA sponsorship — sign up, add your profile, and choose lottery or full H-1B filing.
- 2
Start a case & invite candidate
We manage candidate intake for your San Francisco worksite — send a secure invite and we collect passport, degree, and resume for LCA and petition prep.
- 3
Certify LCA with DOL
We prepare and file the LCA with correct San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA prevailing wage, SOC code, and worksite. Notice posting and PAF included.
- 4
Prepare Form I-129 petition
Our immigration lawyers prepare Form I-129, draft the employer support letter, and assemble the evidence packet for your San Francisco worksite — structured to reduce RFE risk.
- 5
Submit to USCIS & track
We file with USCIS on your behalf. Track receipt notices, RFEs, and approval in your employer dashboard.
Why employers choose us
The best H-1B filing service for San Francisco employers
Employers in San Francisco, CA sponsor software engineers, data roles, and specialty occupations. h1bfiling.com handles LCA, candidate intake, and I-129 petition preparation — reviewed by dedicated immigration lawyers.
- Dedicated immigration lawyer on every petition — not software-only filing
- Among the highest H-1B approval rates in the industry
- Workflows designed to reduce RFE risk before USCIS review
- Flat fees: $999 lottery · $2,999 filing — no surprise hourly bills
- Secure employer dashboard + candidate document portal
- LCA, prevailing wage, PAF, and I-129 petition steps tracked in one place
Top industries in San Francisco
- AI startups
- Fintech
- Biotech
- Enterprise SaaS
- Crypto/Web3
Most sponsored roles
- 1.Software Engineer
- 2.Data Scientist
- 3.Research Scientist
- 4.Staff Software Engineer
- 5.Machine Learning Engineer
San Francisco filing checklist
- LCAs must list the correct San Francisco worksite address and prevailing wage for the local MSA.
- Public Access File (PAF) documentation is maintained as part of our LCA workflow.
- Change-of-employer and extension petitions are supported — not just lottery filings.
- Form I-129 petitions should document specialty occupation and wage level clearly.
H-1B filing in San Francisco — FAQ
How do I file an H-1B petition for an employee in San Francisco?
File a certified LCA with the DOL for your San Francisco worksite, then submit Form I-129 to USCIS. On h1bfiling.com, create an employer account, start a case (San Francisco, CA worksite), invite your candidate, and our lawyers prepare the LCA and I-129 petition — flat fee $2,999.
What is the difference between H-1B filing and an H-1B petition in San Francisco?
"H-1B filing" is the full process: LCA certification, Form I-129 petition assembly, and USCIS submission. The petition (I-129) is the formal request to USCIS. h1bfiling.com handles both for San Francisco employers in one workflow.
How long does an H-1B petition take for San Francisco employers?
LCA certification typically takes 7–14 days (longer if flagged). USCIS I-129 processing varies by service center and premium processing. Most San Francisco employers complete document collection and LCA prep in 2–4 weeks on h1bfiling.com before USCIS submission.
Can I transfer an H-1B employee to my San Francisco worksite?
Yes. Change-of-employer H-1B transfers require a new LCA for your San Francisco location and a new I-129 petition. Candidates already in H-1B status skip the lottery. AC21 porting may apply upon USCIS receipt.
Ready to file in San Francisco?
Join 80+ companies using h1bfiling.com. Lawyer-reviewed petitions, highest approval rates, and a team that handles everything.
Get started — $2,999 per filing