H1B Cap-Exempt Employers List

Explore top H1B visa cap-exempt employers across the U.S. including universities, non-profits, and research institutions.

The H1B visa cap limits the number of new H1B visas issued each year. However, certain organizations are exempt from this cap — including institutions of higher education, nonprofit entities affiliated with them, and nonprofit or governmental research organizations.

Employees of these cap-exempt employers can apply for H1B visas at any time of the year without being subject to the annual lottery. Use the filters below to find organizations that qualify.

Filter Employers

Employer Name

Cap Exempt Type

Higher Education

Affiliated Non-Profit

Research Organization

City

State

Top H1B Cap-Exempt Employers

#	Employer	City	Recent Filing
1	University Of Michigan	Ann Arbor, MI	1,985
2	Mayo Clinic Rochester	Rochester, MN	1,497
3	The Leland Stanford, Jr University	Stanford, CA	1,401
4	The Johns Hopkins University	Baltimore, MD	1,348
5	University Of Pittsburgh Physicians	Pittsburgh, PA	1,270
6	Columbia University	New York, NY	1,153
7	National Institutes Of Health/Hhs	Bethesda, MD	1,051
8	Washington University In St. Louis	St. Louis, MO	1,050
9	The Devereux Foundation	Rutland, MA	1,037
10	University Of California, San Francisco	San Francisco, CA	1,025
11	Trustees Of University Of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia, PA	1,012

12	Emory University	Atlanta, GA	1,011
13	Memorial Sloankettering Cancer Center	New York, NY	955
14	University Of Florida	GAINESVILLE, FL	940
15	Northwestern University	Evanston, IL	938
16	The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai	New York, NY	934
17	University Of Chicago	Chicago, IL	901
18	Yale University	New Haven, CT	893
19	University Of Alabama At Birmingham	Birmingham, AL	892
20	Harvard University	Cambridge, MA	888
21	St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital	Memphis, TN	880
22	University Of Minnesota Physicians	Minneapolis, MN	875
23	The General Hospital Corporation	Somerville, MA	825
24	University Of California, San Diego	La Jolla, CA	803
25	Purdue University	West Lafayette, IN	798

Note: The number of Recent Filings refers to the total Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed for H-1B visas over the past three years.

Disclaimer: The list is based on employer filings to the U.S. Department of Labor. It does not guarantee that the employer is still qualified for cap-exempt status. Please contact the employer directly for verification.

What Are H1B Cap-Exempt Employers?

H1B cap-exempt employers are organizations that are not subject to the annual H1B visa lottery or cap limit. These employers can file H1B petitions at any time of the year, offering greater flexibility and opportunities for international professionals.

Who Qualifies as a Cap-Exempt Employer?

According to USCIS regulations, the following organizations typically qualify as H1B cap-exempt:

Institutions of higher education – such as colleges and universities
Nonprofit entities that are affiliated with higher education institutions
Nonprofit research organizations
Government research organizations

Why Choose a Cap-Exempt Employer?

Cap-exempt H1B jobs offer several advantages, including:

Ability to apply year-round without waiting for the lottery
Higher approval rates and fewer delays
Ideal for academic, medical, and research professionals

Examples of H1B Cap-Exempt Employers

Many top universities, teaching hospitals, public research labs, and nonprofit foundations fall under this category. Common examples include:

Harvard University
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Stanford Research Institute

Frequently Asked Questions

Are all nonprofits cap-exempt? No. Only those affiliated with higher education or classified as nonprofit research organizations qualify.

Can I transfer from a cap-exempt employer to a cap-subject one? Yes, but the new employer must go through the H1B lottery unless they are also cap-exempt.

Is it easier to get an H1B through a cap-exempt employer? Generally yes, because these organizations are not limited by the cap and often have streamlined filing processes.

How to Use This List

Use the filters above to search for H1B cap-exempt employers by name, location, and type. Each employer’s record includes the number of Recent Filings, which reflects the total Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) filed for H-1B visas over the past three years.

Looking for more information? Visit our H1B visa guide or explore the full employer database on myvisajobs.com.