H-1B Lottery
The random selection process used when H-1B registrations exceed the annual cap of 85,000, determining which petitions USCIS will accept for processing.
H-1B Lottery is a term from U.S. employment-based immigration — typically a step, document, or filing in the H-1B (or related visa) process. The definition here is the practical worker-facing meaning, anchored in the DOL and USCIS processes that produce the underlying data this site uses. Understanding H-1B Lottery is part of reading H-1B sponsorship offers and the publicly-disclosed filing data defensibly. Each technical term in the H-1B process carries specific implications for workers — eligibility, timing, employer obligations, portability — and the worker-relevant interpretation often differs from the technical legal definition.
Each employer page on H1BTracker surfaces the specific H-1B Lottery-relevant data for that company, so the general definition here translates into the concrete numbers on the per-company pages.
How It Works
Since 2020, USCIS has used an electronic registration system where employers pay $10 to register each beneficiary during a brief registration period (typically March). If registrations exceed the cap, USCIS conducts a random lottery to select which petitions will be accepted. In FY2025, USCIS received over 470,000 registrations for 85,000 slots, roughly a 1-in-5 chance. Selected applicants then have 90 days to file the full H-1B petition. USCIS has implemented measures to combat fraud, including a "beneficiary-centric" selection process that prevents multiple registrations for the same person.
Related Terms
- H-1B Visa, A nonimmigrant work visa allowing U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in "specialty occupations" that require at least a bachelor's degree, the primary visa for skilled tech, engineering, and professional workers.
- H-1B Cap, The annual limit of 65,000 new H-1B visas for private-sector employers, plus 20,000 additional visas for applicants with U.S. advanced degrees.
- Premium Processing, An optional expedited service where USCIS guarantees to process an H-1B petition within 15 business days, in exchange for an additional $2,805 fee.
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About This Definition
This definition is part of the H1BVisaTracker H-1B Visa Glossary, 26 terms explaining H-1B sponsorship, work visas, and employment-based immigration in the United States. Written for international workers, employers, and immigration professionals.