USCIS to Announce Second-Round H-1B Visa Lottery

An Additional 20,000-25,000+ Visas to Be Issued

Update 7/28/2023: Please read our attorneys’ answers to frequently asked questions about the second-round H-1B lottery here.

Clients and employers have been anxious to know if USCIS will conduct a second-round lottery for the fiscal year 2024 starting October 1, 2023.

WR Immigration has now confirmed after reviewing its case files, and after discussing with other immigration lawyers that a second-round lottery will almost certainly be announced in the next few weeks and most likely before the end of July 2023.

USCIS is authorized to issue 85,000 cap-subject H-1B visas annually. However, as of today, July 27, 2023, only about 70% of the authorized quota has been issued. Based on WR Immigration’s research and calculation of numbers, WR Immigration is now predicting that the H-1B second-round lottery will be held in August 2023, or possibly before. There is an urgent need to act and although there was no second-round H-1B lottery in FY 2023, WR immigration is anticipating that between 20,000 and 25,000+ H-1B visas will be allocated in the next few weeks. USCIS must act quickly to make this announcement as it takes time to adjudicate these additional petitions. Once approved, H-1B employees abroad must make an appointment at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy abroad before the H-1B travel visa can be issued. Entry to the US may not occur until September 21, 2023, 10 days before the start of the October 1, 2024, FY 2024 fiscal year. This is the earliest date that new H-1B visa workers can enter the USD on new cap-subject visas.

General information about the H-1B Visa

The H-1B program allows companies and other employers in the United States to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific specialty, or its equivalent. H-1B specialty occupations may include fields such as architecture, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, social sciences, medicine and health, education, business specialties, accounting, law, theology, and the arts. For more information about the H-1B program.