Employers in the United States who require the temporary services of an alien worker in a specialty occupation must file a Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once the H-1B specialty occupation petition is approved, the applicant may apply at the American Institute in Taiwan.

All applicants from age 14 through 79 must must make an appointment and appear in person at Taipei Office of the American Institute in Taiwan, Taipei Office.

To apply for an H-1B visa, applicants are advised to bring the following documents to to AIT, Taipei:

• A valid passport signed by the bearer
• An application form DS-156 completed in English with one photo. Please include a Taiwan telephone number on the form. Local addresses may also be written in both English and Chinese for clarity. Addresses written in Chinese are not required. The photo should be 2 inches square (50 mm square) full-face (eyes facing camera) taken within the past six months. The head, from top to chin, should measure between 1 to 1 3/8 inch (25 to 35 mm). The photo should be in color with a white or off-white background.
• Male applicants between 16-45 years of age must also submit a completed form DS-157, Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application (in English).
• A non-refundable US$131 visa application processing fee. Please pay this fee in equivalent Taiwan currency at any branch of the Taiwan post office before you come in to apply. Our account number is 19189005. The account name is "AIT Visa Processing Fee". This receipt is valid for one year. In order to assist us with our record-keeping, we ask that one receipt be presented for each individual applicant.
• A copy of the petition (form I-129) your employer filed for you
• The original Notice of Approval (I-797A or I-797B) issued by USCIS
• Old I-20 forms, if available
• Prior holders of J visas who are subject to the two-year Taiwan residency provision should provide evidence that they have either fulfilled the residency requirement or have obtained a waiver.
  If you have changed your name, bring a copy of your household registration record.

Spouses and children under age 21 of H-1B visa holders or H-1B visa applicants may apply for an H-4 visa. Children under the age of 14 are not required to appear for personal interview. A parent or legal guardian must apply on behalf of a child age 13 or younger.

H-4 visa applicants should submit the following documents to AIT, Taipei:

• A valid passport signed by the bearer
• An application form DS-156 completed in English with one photo. Please include a Taiwan telephone number on the form. Local addresses may also be written in both English and Chinese for clarity. Addresses written in Chinese are not required. The photo should be 2 inches square (50 mm square) full-face (eyes facing camera) taken within the past six months. The head, from top to chin, should measure between 1 to 1 3/8 inch (25 to 35 mm). The photo should be in color with a white or off-white background.
• Male applicants between 16-45 years of age must also submit a completed form DS-157, Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application (in English).
• A non-refundable US$131 visa application processing fee. Please pay this fee in equivalent Taiwan currency at any branch of the Taiwan post office before you come in to apply. Our account number is 19189005. The account name is "AIT Visa Processing Fee". This receipt is valid for one year. In order to assist us with our record-keeping, we ask that one receipt be presented for each individual applicant.
• If you have changed your name, bring a copy of your household registration record.
• The original Notice of Approval (form I-797A or I-797B) issued by USCIS to the H-1B holder or to the H-4 applicant. The Notice of Approval issued to the H-1B holder should also be presented in addition to the applicant's own Notice of Approval.
• Prior holders of J visas who are subject to the two-year residency provision should provide evidence that they have either fulfilled the residency requirement or have obtained a waiver.
• A copy of marriage certificate or household registration proving a legal relationship between you and the H-1B visa holder.

For additional information about H visas, click here (The Bureau of Consular Affairs Website).