Petition

<p>An <b>H-1B petition</b> is filed by a U.S. employer (the petitioner) to classify a foreign national (the beneficiary) in the H-1B category. It's a formal request to USCIS, using Form I-129, to grant the worker H-1B status.</p><p>Petitions can be:</p><ul><li>New (initial cap-case)</li><li>Amendments</li><li>Extensions</li><li>Transfers</li></ul><p>The term distinguishes it from an application (which one usually files for themselves). For instance, a Form I-129 petition vs. a visa application (DS-160) that the beneficiary files for a visa stamp.</p>