Getting a mortgage as an H-1B visa holder
H-1B visa holders are, in most lenders' eyes, strong borrowers: you have a Social Security number, verifiable W-2 employment, and often a high salary. Eligibility is rarely the obstacle on conventional loans — H-1B holders typically qualify on the same terms as citizens. (FHA is the exception: a May 2025 HUD policy change limited FHA to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.)
What lenders scrutinize is continuity: a work visa is temporary and tied to your employer, so an underwriter wants comfort that your income and residency will continue. Knowing how to document that turns a 'maybe' into an approval.
Credit history
Because you have an SSN, you build a standard U.S. credit file. Most H-1B holders qualify on a normal FICO score. If your credit is thin because you arrived recently, lenders can sometimes use non-traditional credit (rent, utilities) to supplement — but a 12+ month domestic credit history makes everything smoother.
Income documentation
Most H-1B holders are W-2 employees, which is the easiest income type to document — pay stubs, two years of W-2s, and a verification of employment. If you're self-employed under H-1B (less common, and subject to immigration rules), you go through the standard self-employed analysis. Foreign income earned before arriving generally isn't counted unless it continues.
If you’re self-employed on top of your status, the self-employed mortgage guide and bank statement loans cover how your business income qualifies.
Down payment
Standard on conventional: as low as 3–5% down with a valid SSN and work authorization, and no special 'visa surcharge' down payment — you're treated like any qualified borrower. (FHA's 3.5% program is no longer open to non-permanent residents as of May 2025.)
Loan programs open to you
- Conventional (Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac) — available with valid SSN and work authorization
- FHA — no longer available to non-permanent residents (May 2025 HUD policy change); an option after a green card
- Jumbo — available, though some lenders add visa-continuity overlays
- VA / USDA — only if otherwise eligible (VA requires qualifying service)
Best-fit path
Conventional loan — With an SSN, W-2 income, and decent credit, most H-1B holders qualify conventionally at the best available rate and lowest down payment. Start here before considering anything specialized.
Also worth comparing:
- Non-QM / portfolio programs — A fallback if your credit file is still young or a lender overlay blocks you — portfolio lenders set their own guidelines and several serve visa professionals.
- Self-employed programs — If you have permissible self-employment income, the bank statement and 1099 paths apply the same way they do for any self-employed borrower.
Compare every option side by side on the loan types page, or take the 5-question loan quiz.
Key consideration: visa continuity, not eligibility
Document checklist
FAQ
Conventional, yes — with a valid SSN and work authorization, on the same terms as other qualified borrowers. FHA, no longer: a May 2025 HUD policy change limited FHA to U.S. citizens and permanent residents in May 2025, ending the prior EAD-based eligibility. Documentation of continued employment is what conventional lenders focus on.
Generally no. On conventional loans, H-1B holders qualify for standard low-down-payment options — as little as 3–5% down. Some jumbo lenders add overlays, but there's no across-the-board visa surcharge. (FHA has been closed to non-permanent residents since May 2025.)
It depends on the lender's overlays. Some want a certain amount of time remaining or a letter about renewal likelihood; others simply require an unexpired status. If one lender balks at your timeline, it's worth checking another. For the immigration side of renewal, consult an immigration attorney.
Educational information only — not financial, immigration, or legal advice, and not a quote, pre-approval, or offer of credit. Program availability and ranges are illustrative and vary by lender. Mortgage Merlin is a publisher, not a lender or broker.