Every year, thousands of workers compete for the chance to work in the United States under the temporary work H-1B visa. It has a tight timeline and limited slots, controlled through its famous lottery. If you miss the registration window or submit incomplete information, you lose your chance until next year.

It's best to start early if you want a fair chance at it. You want time to gather the right documents, talk to your employer (or attorney), fix any problem along the way, and prove your eligibility. But it’s never too late to begin.

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What’s the H-1B Lottery?

The lottery system works as follows:

The government sets a limit on how many new H-1B visas they give out each year. In most cases, it’s 65,000 for regular applicants and an extra 20,000 for people with an American master’s degree or higher. Employers submit online registrations on behalf of potential workers during a set period. After the registration closes, the government randomly selects enough registrations to fill the available slots. If your registration is chosen, your employer can file your H-1B petition.

The United States has it because the demand for H-1B visas is often higher than the annual limit. The lottery helps give all applicants a fair chance. If there were no random selection, those who file first or have more resources might take all the spots. The lottery keeps it more balanced.

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Key Dates for the 2025 H-1B Lottery

The United States government sets key dates for the H-1B lottery every year. Although these dates can change, they tend to follow a clear pattern. Here is a quick overview of the dates you should mark for 2025:

H-1B Registration Period

This is usually in March. For FY2026 (a.k.a. this year), it starts at noon (Eastern time) on March 7 and will run through noon (Eastern time) on March 24.

During this short window, your employer files an electronic or online registration through USCIS website with your information. There is no need to rush and file on the first day, as long as your employer (also known as your sponsor) finishes and pays the $215 fee by the deadline.

H-1B Lottery Results Announcement

USCIS plans to announce the results by March 31 for everyone who registered during the initial window. If USCIS gets enough unique beneficiaries (that is, workers sponsored by an American employer) in that time, they will complete a random selection and post the results. If they don’t get enough, then all properly submitted registrations will be selected.

Employers (or their legal representatives, like your LOIGICA attorneys) will see a notice in their USCIS online accounts if any of their registrations were selected. They won’t send paper notices or letters for this step.

If your registration is chosen, you or your employer will get more instructions in yours or their online account about how to file the H-1B petition.

H-1B Second Lottery

If you aren’t selected in the first lottery, you still have a chance. Sometimes, USCIS decides to hold a second lottery, like last year. They will do this if they don’t get enough complete H-1B petitions to meet the yearly quota after the first round of selections.

USCIS has not officially confirmed a second lottery for the 2025 cycle yet, and it’s never a sure thing.

However, the second round of the lottery tends to run in late summer or early fall. (If it happens, we’ll notify you through our newsletter!) And when there’s a second lottery, you don’t need to submit a new registration; the system will simply pick from the remaining registrations.

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Changes of This Year's H-1B Lottery

The H-1B visa program went through big changes for the 2025 season. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and USCIS announced new rules that affect the lottery and the way employers file H-1B petitions.

Although it’s advisable to check the official USCIS website for the latest details or to contact an attorney, below is a short list of the main changes:

1. Beneficiary-Centric Lottery. USCIS began selecting registrations based on the unique beneficiary. This prevents multiple registrations from boosting a single person’s chances. If employers submit more than one registration for the same worker, USCIS views that worker as one unique entry in the lottery.
2. New Specialty Occupation Rules. DHS clarified the definition of “specialty occupation.” They explained that “normally” does not mean “always,” so a degree that is usually needed for the job may be enough. They also said that if the employer accepts a range of degrees, those degrees must relate to the duties of the job.
3. Eliminating the Itinerary Requirement. Employers no longer must file a formal travel itinerary for H-1B workers. This change applies to all H classifications. It should make it easier for employers who need to place workers at different sites during the H-1B approval period.
4. Emphasis on a Bona Fide Job Offer. USCIS stressed that the job must be real and available at the time the H-1B starts. If the worker is placed at a third-party site, that work must also be in a specialty occupation. DHS also gave USCIS the power to ask for contracts or other proof that the position exists.
5. Ownership Changes. Certain owners of the petitioning company (“beneficiary-owners”) can still qualify for H-1B. But USCIS will limit the first two H-1B approvals for these owners to 18 months each.
6. Site Visit Authority. USCIS codified its right to do site visits to ensure the job is real. They can deny or revoke a petition if an employer refuses to comply.

These changes aim to reduce fraud, protect workers, and make the H-1B process clearer.

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Next Steps After Winning the H-1B Lottery

If you are picked in the lottery, your employer will see a selection notice in their USCIS online account. They can then file a full H-1B petition with USCIS. This is where they submit your supporting documents, such as your degree and job offer details.

If USCIS approves that petition, you can start or continue your work in the United States under an H-1B status. Your status and the dates of valid employment will be listed on the approval notice. If you live outside the country, you will usually need to apply for an H-1B visa at an American consulate or embassy.

Make sure your employer files the petition on time. Also, stay in contact with your employer’s HR or legal team for any next steps. They know all the filing deadlines and documentation requirements. And, if you need any help along the way, contact our attorneys at LOIGICA.