H-1B Visa Guide for Saudi Nationals (2026)

Green card backlog, lottery odds, top employers, and key visa considerations for Saudi Arabia nationals seeking US work authorization.

~1800/yr
Annual H-1B Approvals
$125,000
Median LCA Wage
35% MS / 20% BS
Lottery Odds
.43%
% of Total H-1B
EB-2 Green Card BacklogCurrent
EB-3 Green Card BacklogCurrent
Visa Alternatives

H-1B is primary. Saudi Aramco and SABIC are major L-1 intracompany transfer sponsors. Large KAUST scholarship alumni pipeline to US universities.

Top H-1B Employers for Saudi Arabia Nationals

Saudi Aramco (US)SABIC (US)GoogleAmazonMicrosoftDeloitteAccentureJPMorgan

Top H-1B Roles

Software EngineerPetroleum EngineerChemical EngineerData ScientistFinancial Analyst

Top States for Saudi Arabia H-1B Workers

TexasCaliforniaNew YorkVirginiaMassachusetts

Green Card Pathway

No backlog. Rest-of-world EB-2/EB-3 current. KAUST scholarship program historically sent many graduates to US grad programs.

What is the green card timeline for Saudi Arabia nationals?

No backlog. Rest-of-world EB-2/EB-3 current. KAUST scholarship program historically sent many graduates to US grad programs.

What are H-1B visa alternatives for Saudi professionals?

H-1B is primary. Saudi Aramco and SABIC are major L-1 intracompany transfer sponsors. Large KAUST scholarship alumni pipeline to US universities.

Which employers sponsor H-1B for Saudi Arabia nationals?

Top H-1B sponsors for Saudi nationals include: Saudi Aramco (US),SABIC (US),Google,Amazon,Microsoft,Deloitte,Accenture,JPMorgan. Sectors vary by country.

What is the H-1B lottery odds for Saudi applicants?

H-1B lottery odds are approximately 35% MS / 20% BS — the same for all nationalities. Per-country limits only apply to employment-based green cards, not H-1B status itself.