USCIS Announces Second H-1B Lottery for FY2024

Jul 28, 2023 | Announcements, Immigration Updates

As we previously predicted, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has officially announced that it will conduct a second lottery of the H-1B cap registrations submitted in March 2023 for the FY2024 H-1B cap. Answers to common questions are addressed below.

Do employers have to submit new H-1B cap registrations?

No. Employers do not need to do anything at this time. USCIS is not accepting new registrations; they will only be conducting the lottery based on registrations that were submitted but not selected in March 2023. If the registration is selected in this lottery, the employer may proceed with the H-1B petition process to file with USCIS.

Do individuals need to do anything?

No, they do not need to do anything at this time. If the registration is selected in this lottery, the employer may proceed with the H-1B petition process to file with USCIS.

Why is USCIS conducting a second lottery?

USCIS did not receive sufficient H-1B cap petitions during the initial 90-day filing period (April 1 to June 30) to meet the quota for both the “Bachelor’s” cap and the “Master’s” cap for FY2024.

What’s next?

USCIS will conduct the lottery shortly. Employers and their representatives will receive USCIS notifications if additional H-1B cap registrations that they submitted in March 2023 were selected in this second FY2024 H-1B cap lottery process.

How will we know that the lottery has been completed?

USCIS will announce when it has completed this second lottery of H-1B cap registrations and has notified all employers and representatives with newly selected H-1B cap registrations.

What happens after an employer is notified that an H-1B cap registration has been selected in this second lottery?

The employer may then proceed with filing an H-1B petition to sponsor the individual for H-1B status. USCIS will provide a 90-day filing period.

WR Immigration will provide additional updates as this second lottery process proceeds. Stay tuned and good luck!

Related Posts:

Immigration Update

In this edition, find the latest news on the USCIS follow-up on international student issues, HHS poverty guidelines, DOS’s ‘’Welcome Corps’ and more! USCIS Provides Follow-Up Q&A on International Student Issues U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provided questions and answers following a webinar presented by the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman in August 2022 on international student issues. Topics include maintaining F-1 status and Optional Practical Training (OPT), applications for employment authorization, Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, changes of address, and COVID-19-related issues. Details: Back to Top HHS Issues Poverty Guidelines for 2023 The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued updated poverty income guidelines for 2023 to account for 2022’s increase in prices as measured by the Consumer Price Index. Several federal programs use the poverty guidelines as an eligibility criterion. As in prior years, the 2023 guidelines “are roughly equal to the poverty thresholds for calendar year 2022 which the Census Bureau expects to publish in final form in September 2023,” HHS said. As an example, the 2023 poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia (DC) are $14,580 annually for a […]

Good News for H-1B Applicants as Biden Administration Delays Wage-Based Selection Process for H-1Bs

Many H-1B applicants were extremely concerned about the prior administration’s proposed wage-based section system that would disadvantage recent U.S. graduates and certain professionals in favor of applicants with the higher paid jobs. DHS has indicated it will delay the effective date of the final rule titled “Modification of Registration Requirement for Petitioners Seeking to File Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions,” until December 31, 2021. The proposed rule amends the process by which USCIS would be selecting H-1B registrations for filing of H-1B cap-subject petitions. Under the delayed rule, USCIS would have first selected registrations based on the highest occupational employment statistics prevailing wage level that the offered wage equals or exceeds for the relevant standard occupational classification code and area(s) of intended employment.  If implemented, the rule would have favored higher paid occupations. Last Friday on February 5, 2021, USCIS announced the FY2022 H-1B cap initial registration period will open March 9, 2021.  The delayed final rule means this H-1B cap registration will follow current regulations, which is a lottery involving random selection.  For more information about the FY 2022 H-1B cap registration process and timeline, please read WR’s alert here. Sources: DHS delays effective date of H-1B selection final rule Federal Register, Modification Of Registration Requirement […]