The H1B visa has a lottery process that randomly selects applicants by USCIS to determine which applicants can file an H-1B petition if the annual limit of applicants is exceeded. The H-1B visa registration period officially ends on March 24, 2025. For thousands of foreign professionals vying for one of the 85,000 available places in this year’s H1B visa lottery, this is the end of a high-stakes time.
The lottery will be chosen between March 25 and March 30, according to USCIS. The results have already been posted on social media sites like X and Red Book, and the final announcement is anticipated on March 31.
Read also: H1B Visa Stamping in USA
HB1 Visa Lottery
Employers in the United States are able to hire foreign workers for specialized jobs through the H-1B visa program. However, because of the strong demand, the annual number of H-1B visas granted is limited. A lottery mechanism chooses petitions for processing at random when demand outpaces supply. This book will help you comprehend the selection process, deal with the intricacies of the H-1B cap lottery, and look into other options in the event that you are not chosen.
The strong demand for these visas leads to the H-1B cap lottery, which can cause anxiety for both businesses and potential H-1B visa holders. Everything you need to know about the H-1B cap lottery will be covered in this book, including the selection procedure, what to do if you or your employee are not chosen, and more.
HB1 Visa Lottery 2026
Immigration law firm Richards and Jurusik reports that the United States has begun to release the results of the H-1B visa lottery for the fiscal year 2026. Through their employer or legal agent, or through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) portal, applicants can check their status online. Some people might have to wait a little while longer for confirmation because notifications are being sent out in phases.
The registration period for this year ran from March 7, 2025 to March 24, 2025. US corporations can sponsor foreign specialists in fields including technology, engineering, and healthcare under the H-1B program.
This year, USCIS implemented a number of modifications. The registration price increased from $10 to $215 per beneficiary, which was the most visible change. The increased cost is a 2050% increase and must be paid at the time of registration. It is non-refundable.
HB1 Visa Lottery Result
Each account will receive notification on or around March 31st, 2025, on who has been chosen and who has not. You can now submit the complete H1B visa application if you are chosen. It’s not yet the end of the world if you are not chosen! The outcomes of the H1B lottery are usually followed by several rounds of selection.
Sometimes, for whatever reason, those who have been chosen for the H1B lottery choose not to proceed with their case. Those spots ultimately return to the pool for the selection of new candidates. August is when a second round of the H1B lottery is most likely to take place. For the second round, you won’t have to re-register.
What Happens After You Win in the H1B Lottery?
In the event that your company chooses to proceed with your H1B lottery victory, you will need to complete and submit an H1B visa application to USCIS by June 30, 2025.
- This often consists of a letter of petition or offer of employment outlining the position, the reasons it is a specialty vocation, and the candidate’s suitability for it.
- Academic qualifications
- Proof that the business exists and where the work site located
- The H1B filing and attorney fees must also be covered by the employer’s financial obligations.
Conclusion
The H1B lottery results are beginning to be released! Last Tuesday, USCIS started to update the results in the myUSCIS system. Are you unsure if you were chosen? To check the status of their cases, employers must use the account they created when they registered for the lottery to access the myUSCIS website.
A significant adjustment has been incorporated in this year’s H-1B lottery outcomes. Our corporate immigration lawyers have informed us that the selection rate has increased to about 35%. This suggests that there may have been fewer registrations overall this year, maybe as a result of modifications to the eligibility requirements or policy.