There are many USCIS applicants interested in an H-1B Work Visa which allows those to temporarily work in the United States in their occupations who have specialized knowledge/education in their specific field. Some of these occupations include engineers, teachers, accountants, and more that heavily rely on the H1B lottery.
Randomly, the USCIS will have an H1B lottery selecting applicants in the pool to immigrate to the US. These cap selections are broken into two categories: H-1B Regular Cap and H-1B Advanced Degree Exemption. Because petition cap not being reached in April 2020, applicants are getting selected for a second lottery!
Second H1B Lottery
On August 14, 2020, the USCIS started contacting employee applicants that they have been selected for the FY 2021 H-1B cap. These candidates now have until November 16th, 2020 to submit their H1B petitions. This is because the first lottery did not hit the 85,000 quota.
The USCIS has yet to announce how many slots remain open but these slots will only be going to applicants that weren’t selected the first lottery round.
If you have been selected in the second lottery, the USCIS will contact you by email that action has been taken on his/her case.
How Does the H-1B Lottery Work?
The USCIS approves around 200,00 H1B visa applications on average per year, 65,000 of those coming from the H1B lottery. 20,000 of the 65,000 are reserved for advanced degree candidates.
H1B Lottery Break Down:
- 20,000 advanced degree petitions will be selected (those not selected are transferred to the general pool for another chance)
- 65,000 petitions are selected from the general lottery pool. ( Citizens of Singapore and Chile are reserved an additional 6,500 H1B visas)
Cap-Exempt Petitions:
- Petitions that have already been selected in the lottery
- Visa extensions for petitions that have already been granted an H1B visa
- Changes in employment details (location, required expertise, duties)
- Petitions for transferring to a new employer
- Petitions for a second position of employment
When is the Next H1B Lottery?
Unfortunately, there are not set dates for the H1B Lottery and it is done “randomly.” Many have noticed an April trend for these lotteries in previous years!
Need Help Immigrating to the United States?
If you find yourself affected by this announcement and need legal assistance, contact VisaPlace today. All of our cases are handled by competent and experienced immigration professionals who are affiliated with VisaPlace. These professionals consist of lawyers, licensed paralegals, and consultants who work for Niren and Associates an award-winning immigration firm that adheres to the highest standards of client service.
Ready for the next step? Book your 1 on 1 consultation now or call us at 1-877-296-0874.
Have a Question related to your Immigration Needs?
Fill out the FREE Immigration Assessment form and get a response within 24 hours to see if you’re eligible.
The assessment form should take approximately 5-7 minutes to complete. We will get back to you within one business day to let you know if we are able to help.
VisaPlace Immigration News Contributor
Sierra
Hi there! I am one of VisaPlace's immigration content writers. If you have any questions regarding this article, please comment below!
