USCIS: H1B Visa Lottery Second Round Of Selection Revealed

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) revealed earlier this week that they will hold a second-round selection for the H-1B visa lottery for fiscal year 2024.

An additional 20,000-25,000 visas are expected to be issued.

Clients and employers have been waiting to see if USCIS will hold a second-round lottery for fiscal year 2024, which begins on October 1, 2023.

After evaluating its case files and consulting with other immigration lawyers, WR Immigration has determined that a second-round lottery will very surely be announced in the next weeks, most likely before the end of July 2023.

Annually, the USCIS is authorized to award 85,000 cap-subject H-1B visas. However, only around 70% of the authorized quota has been issued as of today, July 27, 2023. Based on its research and calculations, WR Immigration now predicts that the H-1B second-round lottery will take place in August 2023, or maybe sooner. Although there was no second-round H-1B lottery in FY 2023, WR immigration anticipates that between 20,000 and 25,000+ H-1B visas will be allocated in the coming weeks. Because adjudicating these additional applications takes time, USCIS must act fast to issue this announcement. Once authorized, H-1B employees in other countries must schedule an appointment with a US Consulate or Embassy before the H-1B travel visa can be given. Entry into the United States may not occur until September 21, 2023, ten days before the fiscal year begins on October 1, 2024, FY 2024. This is the earliest day on which new H-1B visa employees can enter the United States on new cap-subject visas.

• Information on the H-1B Visa in general

The H-1B program allows companies and other employers in the United States to temporarily hire foreign workers in occupations that require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge as well as a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific specialty, or its equivalent. Architecture, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, social sciences, medical and health, education, business specialties, accounting, law, theology, and the arts are examples of H-1B specialty jobs. For additional information on the H-1B visa program, click here.