Each year, USCIS makes 85,000 new H-1B visas available through a lottery process:
- 65,000 regular cap visas
- 20,000 additional visas reserved for beneficiaries with U.S. master’s degrees or higher
Employers must register their candidates electronically during a limited period each spring. USCIS then randomly selects registrations, and only selected candidates can move forward to file full petitions.
Registration Process
- Create a USCIS Organizational Account at my.uscis.gov
- Add Your Attorney as Legal Representative to manage the filing on your behalf
- Submit Employer & Beneficiary Information (company details, job role, beneficiary’s biographic data, passport, degree documents)
- Pay the Registration Fee (currently $215 per beneficiary)
- Await Selection Results (posted online in employer accounts)
After Selection
If selected, employers must submit a complete H-1B petition, including:
- Approved Labor Condition Application (LCA)
- Detailed position description and evidence of specialty occupation
- Beneficiary qualifications (degrees, transcripts, prior experience)
- Supporting employer information
What Employers Should Know
- Beneficiary-Centric Selection: Multiple employers cannot submit duplicate registrations for the same candidate.
- Deadlines Matter: Only petitions filed within the designated window are considered.
- No Filing Without Selection: A registration must be selected in the lottery before USCIS accepts a petition.
Our Role
We manage every step of the cap-subject process:
- Setting up organizational accounts and adding us as representatives
- Ensuring proper documentation for both employer and beneficiary
- Preparing the petition package for timely submission after selection
- Advising on alternatives if a beneficiary is not selected
Even with the lottery, preparation and compliance are critical. A selected registration only becomes a successful H-1B when the petition is properly filed and approved.