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USCIS Regulation for H1B Lottery: Is it Mandatory?

Many of you have asked us regarding the H1B visa lottery if there is any official rule by USCIS as such or is there an official reference on the same so that we can review it. In this article, we will cover these aspects of official regulation around conducting of H1B Lottery and how it works.

H1B Registration Regulation – H1B Lottery Details

As per the H1B Registration final rule on Federal Register, USCIS may conduct H1B lottery, if they receive more registrations than the required number of registrations to fill the H1B visa regular and master’s quota cap. Below is the actual text from the regulation

“…USCIS will randomly select from among the registrations properly submitted during the initial registration period the number of registrations deemed necessary to meet the H-1B regular cap. This random selection will be made via computer-generated selection.”

Below is the screenshot of the actual H1B lottery text on the federal register

Regulatory Text on H1B Registration Selection Lottery Process
Regulatory Text on H1B Registration Selection Lottery Process

Below are additional regulatory text from the past dating to FY 2006 season.

USCIS Official Regulation on H1B Lottery

USCIS has a regulation in place that calls for conducting of lottery or random selection if a situation arises. The very first time, when the H1B lottery was conducted was for H1B FY 2006. Back in the years, during FY 2006, there was no H1B registration process in place, also back then the H1B visa cap quota used to remain open beyond the 1st week of April. 

Below is the exact text from the USCIS FY 2006 Press Release( it was a pdf file and USCIS removed archived content). As you read through this, you would notice the sentences:

USCIS has implemented the following process for FY 2006 H-1B filings in accordance with the procedures announced in the Federal Register at 70 FR 23775 (Allocation of Additional H-1B Visas Created by the H-1B Visa Reform Act of 2004).

For petitions received on the “final receipt date,” USCIS will apply a computer-generated random selection process. This process will randomly select the exact number of petitions from the day’s receipts needed to meet the congressionally mandated cap.

Official Federal Register Authorization for H1B Lottery or Random Selection

Below is the screenshot of the official document at Federal Register at 70 FR 23775, which talks about the authorization for USICS to conduct the H1B Lottery as needed for the fiscal year(FY) 2005 and in the future. Below is the exact text from the regulation:

 “As discussed above in Section VI, USCIS also is amending 8 CFR 214.2(h)(8)(ii)(B) to authorize random selection of H–1B numbers in FY 2005, FY 2006 and future fiscal years when USCIS determines that the numerical limits in a particular category will be reached.”  Pay attention the future fiscal years. See below.

USCIS Regulation on Acceptance of H1B petitions and H1B Random Selection

As per the regulation text at   8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(x)(D), USCIS can conduct H1B Lottery or random selection as needed. Below is the actual text and screenshot of the regulation.

“When necessary to ensure the fair and orderly allocation of numbers subject to the numerical limitations in paragraphs (h)(6)(x)(A)(1), (2), and (3), USCIS may randomly select from among the petitions received on the final receipt dates the remaining number of petitions deemed necessary to generate the numerical limit of approvals. This random selection will be made via computer-generated selection. Petitions subject to a numerical limitation not randomly selected or that were received after the final receipt dates that may be applicable under paragraph (h)(6)(x)(A)(1), (2), or (3) will be rejected.”

USCIS Regulation on H1B Lottery Process
USCIS Regulation on H1B Lottery Process

Summary of USCIS H1B Numerical Limits Regulation Document

Below are the key points from the official regulation documents from USCIS before the H1B registration regulation came into the picture.

  • The H1B cap would remain open for at least 1st 5 days.  For any fiscal year, this means all petitions received on 1st 5 business days (April 3 to April 7) will be accepted.
  • USCIS will conduct a random selection process made via computer-generated selection as validated by the Office of Immigration Statistics.
  • USCIS will accept extra petitions to make up for denied, and revoked petitions based on historical data.

In the past, there was confusion among many regarding the H1B Lottery as USCIS did not state anything about the lottery in their press releases… Sometimes there were debates that it may not happen, in this context, there are 2 schools of thoughts with regard to H1B Lottery on this topic:

  1. It is understood that random selection will happen and doesn’t need to be explicitly called out in USCIS news releases.
  2. With the change in administration, USCIS wants to use a more intelligent selection process and selection would be based on merit.

What’s our opinion on H1B Lottery?

In our view, USCIS would continue to do what they have been doing for the last several years. If they want to make a fundamental change to the selection process, then that needs to be called out and they would do a regulation like the H1B Wage Levels Regulation for Lottery.

Will there every be a H1B lottery that will be based on salary, or based on job category (so that there is a good mix of software engineers, chemical/mechanical/civil engineers, architects, doctors etc.) or experience level (freshers vs experienced folks) etc.? We do not know at this point. Trump Administration tried to do something on that lines and it was withdrawn later.

Providing transparency is beneficial to all – those who support random selection and those who are against it. As of now,  we do not see any revisions to the above regulation and expect it to be the source of truth.

You may read H1B Registration Process Lottery for the latest info on the same. Share your thoughts below in comments section.

   

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228 Comments

  1. Hi Sourab,

    Can you please clarify me on below situation,

    In 2017’s lottery, my petition got picked and it went to RFE but my Employer could not satisfy the requirements for it, then it went to Rejection finally.

    So this year, my current employer filed my H1B this year also, If my petition is getting picked this year, then While approving my current petition, Does it have any effect from previous year’s Rejection ?

    Regards

    Reply
  2. Hey,

    I have a question about CAP GAP.

    I am working for Employer X now and my H1 is visa sponsored by Employer Y and it is picked in Lottery this year. I will apply for CAP GAP shortly. During CAP GAP, Can i continue to work for employer X till Oct 1, 2017 or I have to start working for Employer Y from the day my CAP GAP starts ?

    Reply
  3. Hi saurabh,

    I got selected through lottery this year. I’m AD. This is my 5th time in a row applying for the lottery. However, in last 5 years I have worked out on good backup plan life vs silicon valley job. I’m not sure yet if I just want to give up my current situation and go back to usa on h1b and stay in limbo mode again for GC etc.. What are my options if I want to retain this h1b for future ?

    Reply
    • Ash,

      Once H-1 is approved and its past Oct, you should be able to use this petition as reference for a future cap-exempt petition. However, it is also possible that USCIS may issue RFE asking for proof of cap, especially if the original petition has been revoked by the employer. A more concrete way is to enter US on H-1B at least once, work for sometime and then park it for future cap-exempt purpose.

      Reply
  4. Hi ,

    I am happy to share out of 4 H1B petitions filed in AD I got 3 selected so should I withdraw other two or just wait for an approval of all 3 and decide.

    Hope fully others too get selected in the lottery

    Luck charm.

    Reply
  5. I filed 3 petitions this time and I enquired my collage regarding sevis update. They emailed me with 2 receipt numbers saying that in pending state. but my employer is saying cheque hasn’t been cashed yet. can we relay on sevis information.

    Reply
    • Ven,

      If the DSO has checked the SEVIS record correctly, then you can rely on those receipt numbers. You should be able to check them online as well. Maybe not a good idea to let employer know yet as you don’t know which receipt number belongs to which employer.

      Reply
        • 3Petitions,

          I understand where you are coming from. For a leveled playing field, it would be better for each candidate to file just 1 petition.

          Reply
          • Yes,

            Coming for a place where this is my last chance to be selected. It pains watching people misuse the system and making the playing field skewed. I have always filed my applications genuinely without misusing the system. At least I get a good night’s sleep. I really wish the wrongdoers must be brought to book and punished.

          • pretty ballsy of people like Ven to claim that they filed 3 applications. I really would like to know how has he managed to do this?

      • Wow. You’re just as pathetic as these scum applicants. You’re actually helping them and advising them on how to continue their fraud and bring all Indians to shame.

        I’m guessing you probably reached US through these multiple petitions through these consultancies also.

        This is the last time I visit this forum. I do not want to visit a website administered by fraud people.

        Reply
        • Paul,

          So there are 2 aspects to this – legal and ethical. Applying through multiple employers is legally allowed but is ethically questionable. My initial response was purely from legal standpoint. There are already enough folks on this forum to give lectures to him on what he has done. I don’t always get the liberty to wear that hat and have to take an unbiased approach.

          In hindsight its 50-50 whether I should have told him to discuss the receipt number w/ his employer or not.

          Pretty judgmental to call me pathetic and call out my immigration history without knowing me. Can you tell me how I committed fraud, so that I can correct myself in future.

          Reply
          • Feel free to delete my comment. It just upset me to see you helping him out on how to continue exploiting the system.
            I’m sure you’re a nice guy and have personally not exploited the system. But you know it’s a crunch time on this forum- so why did you feel the need to advice him on exploiting be system?

          • Paul,

            That’s ok. No worries! I understand this is do or die situation for lot of folks and emotions often take toll on us. Good luck!

        • hi paul, I genuinely filed 1 petition for the last 2 times .So this is do or die situation for me so I applied 3 petitions. what is wrong in applying . it is legal according to uscis . I spent 45000 $ on my masters. I am not applying from out side of the country like you . if you are really upset with filing h1 go and talk to companies like tcs,infosys and ctz who al are filing thousands of h1b visas for the candidates who are not qualified also . every body do it for a reason . so don’t judge people .

          Reply
          • Ven,

            I applied genuinely last time and this time as well. Do or die for me too. I too spend thousands of $$$ on my masters here. so please stop giving excuses and justifying the immoral act that you have carried out. Simply shameful. People like you need to be taught a lesson by authorities and punished.

          • Dear paul , if you want to teach lesson for multiple petetions then you have to become Dr K.A Paul All the best.

          • Dear Ven,

            Which field do you work in? IT? How did you manage to get 2 companies to file for you? Suggestions/advise will be appreciated.

    • I hope your petitions are revoked. People like you should not be allowed to apply EVER AGAIN. Wasting 2 spots from 85,00.0. You should be ashamed of yourself Ven. Disgrace.

      Reply
    • Maybe your ‘collage’ is a collection of your pictures. Maybe you can ‘relay’ on that. Please do not RELY on your COLLEGE Ven. How did you get 2 companies to sponsor you man? Fishy and mysterious.

      Reply

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