Maximum Admissibility (6-year limit)

<p>H-1B status is granted in up to 3-year increments, and normally the total time one can hold H-1B status is <b>6 years</b>.</p><p>After reaching the limit, the person must either:</p><ul><li>Switch to another status</li><li>Depart and stay outside the U.S. for at least 1 year to reset the H-1B clock</li></ul><p>Exceptions to the 6-year max come from AC21: if certain green card steps are pending or approved, the person can extend beyond six years in increments. Time in L-1 status also counts against H-1B 6-year max (they share the limit).</p>