What is ‘completion of the 6th year’?

‘Completion of the 6th year’ is the term used for the moment when an H-1B holder reaches the maximum period of stay that this status allows on a continuous basis. At that point, the person has exhausted the regular stay period in the category and needs a formal action to remain lawfully in the country.

In practice, this means that, as this limit approaches, the holder must plan ahead for one of the available options:

• change to another immigration status, if eligible;
• seek an extension, when the law provides for exceptions (for example, in situations tied to an ongoing green card process);
• arrange departure from the United States, if no alternative materializes.

The key point is that the status does not renew itself upon reaching this milestone: without a timely action, lawful presence comes to an end. Because the precise scope of this ceiling and the grounds for extension are defined by official rules and may be interpreted on a case-by-case basis, the safest approach is to confirm updated requirements with USCIS and review all options with a specialist well before the deadline.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.