Best Practice for H1B Visa Lottery 2025

Are you looking forward to working in the US as a foreign national?

Are you short of the labor force in the local community as a specialty occupation employer?

Then we might help you. H1B visas are one of the common nonimmigrant work permits which are granted through lottery. The H1B lottery for the fiscal year 2024 selected 188,400 candidates. As the H1B Visa Lottery 2025 is about to begin, many potential workers are expecting to join the program, but here are some questions. What is H1B? What are the H1B visa requirements? How to apply for the visa? In this passage, we will find out answers for you.

What is an H1B Visa?

H1B visa is also referred to as a Person in Specialty Occupation Visa issued by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to foreign professionals with at least a Bachelor’s degree. Through this visa, US employers can invite foreign skilled workers in technology, healthcare, finance, etc. to work in the US for certain years. For fiscal year 2025, the H1B cap is 65,000 for bachelors and 20,000 for masters and doctors. Some are exempt from this cap listed below.

• Transfer H1B visas from one employer to another.
• Extending current H1B.
• Be employed by a US college or university.
• Be employed by a non-profit research organization associated with a US college or university.

What Is an H1B Visa Lottery?

It is estimated that the demand for H1B visas is increasing every year. The USCIS receives far more applications than the number of visas expected to be issued. Hundreds of thousands of candidates are competing for 65,000 places. Therefore, the authority decides to conduct a random selection in a computer-based electronic system to pick potential applicants, which is called the H1B Lottery.

The lottery is featured with:

• Annual Cap

The USCIS determines how many visas to issue every fiscal year (from October 1 to November 30). The demand usually exceeds the supply of the visa, which leads to fierce competition.

• Registrations and Selection

Employers must register eligible H1B candidates in the lottery system within the required time before the computer-based selection.

• Higher Education Preferred

The authority spares extra slots for those with advanced degrees who are given priority in the H1B visa lottery.

H1B Lottery Processing Timelines in 2025

The H1B visa lottery goes through a few stages. As the official dates for registration and selection in the FY 2025 season remain to be announced, next is the estimated H1B processing timelines based on the previous years.

Who Can Apply for the H1B Lottery 2025?

Foreign nations who have a valid job offer from a US employer and a required degree or equivalent experience for the position are eligible for H1B visas.

Specialty Occupation

It refers to one of the following positions in the field of fashion, government-to-government research, and development, or cooperative production projects administered by the Department of Defense.

• At least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent is required, or
• A similar position in another organization has a common degree requirement, or it can only be done by an employee with a degree, or
• The employer normally requires a degree or its equivalent for the position, or
• The job is so specialized and complex that the employee should have a bachelor’s or higher degree to master the knowledge to perform the duties.

Educational Qualification

To qualify for services in a specialty occupation, the candidate must:

• Have a bachelor’s or higher degree from a US college or university, or
• Have a bachelor’s or higher degree from a foreign institution equivalent to a US college or university, or
• Have an unrestricted state license, registration, or certification that grants your ability to perform the specialty occupation, or

Previous Immigration Status

The selection can be influenced by your status or type of work. You might be given priority if you are not counted against the cap before, such as

• F-1 recent graduate under Optional Practical Training (OPT)
• L-1B visa holders with a five-year limit coming to an end
• Dependents visa holders in TD or H-4 status
• Long-term employees, such as TN Visa holders, E visa holders, and O visa holders

Documents for H1B Visa Lottery Application

The process of the H1B lottery takes a few months. Getting all documentation ready can help you gain a permit as soon as possible. Here is a document checklist for registration and petition filing.

H1B Visa Requirements Registration Submission

It is done in an online tool by the employer who should provide the following information and documents of the candidate:

• Full name
• Gender
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Citizenship
• Passport number 
• Photocopy of the passport
• Photocopy of a degree certificate or transcripts

H1B Visa Requirements for Petition Filing

If the candidate is selected for the H1B Visa Lottery 2025, the employer should ask the employee for the following documents to support the H1B petition.

• I-129 Petition
• Approved Labor Condition Application
• Copy of the latest resume
• Copy of the job offer or a letter from the employer stating the job description and date of employment
• Educational certificates and transcripts
• Proof of academic or technical degrees
• Copy of a valid passport
• Proof of previous employment
• Proof of payment

Extra Requirements for F1 Student

If the applicant is working on OPT or STEM OPT, please include the documents below.

• Copy of OPT Card or STEM OPT Card
• Copy of latest I-20 from a Designated School Officials (DSO) showing OPT authorization
• Copy of the I-94
• Pay stubs related to OPT
• I-983 Training Plan for STEM OPT Students

How to Apply for H1B Visas

To successfully obtain an H1B visa, one must go through registration, selection and application process. In this section, we will introduce step-by-step instructions for each stage handled by a different person.

Register for the H1B Lottery — Employer

To submit registration online, a USCIS account is needed. If you are an employer (also called a petitioner), you can’t sign up until the registration period starts. If you are a legal representative, you can sign up at any time. Just go to the USCIS portal to create an account through the steps below.

• Go to the Sign-Up page.

• Enter an email address and click on the “Sign Up” button.
• Click the link in the confirmation email, which will be directed to the login page.
• Read the Terms of Use and check “I Agree“.
• Set a password and click on the “Submit” button.

• Choose a verification method, such as through text, email, or an authentication app.

• Enter the verification code you receive and click “Submit.”
• Keep the two-step verification backup code for further use and click “Proceed“.

• Choose password reset questions and set answers.

• Log in to your USCIS online account.

• Select the account type between “I am an applicant, petitioner, or requestor” and “I am a legal representative“.

• Click on the “File a Registration” button once you set the account as an H1B Registrant. The button is only available during the registration period.

• Click on “Next” after learning about the H1B visa requirements, fees, and other information.

• Click on the “Start” button and provide Information about the Registrant or Employer / H1B Sponsor, such as the legal name of the company, business details, Employer Identification Number (SSN or ITIN), and company address in the US.

• Enter information about a signatory who is authorized to represent the company, such as full name, title, phone number, and email.

• Click on the “Add Beneficiary” button to provide information on the beneficiary (employee).

• Review the registration and authorized Signatory’s statement.

• Pay and submit H1B registration.

Initiate H1B Visa Petition — Employer

After the LCA is obtained and the applicant is selected in the H1B visa lottery, the employer needs to file an H1B petition with USCIS within 90 days. Let’s see what you need to do.

• Have an approved Labor Condition Application (LCA) from the US Department of Labor (DOL) using the FLAG System. The LCA aims to ensure equal working conditions and wages of foreign nationals to US workers.

• Fill out Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker. It must be completed in black ink.
• Submit the forms and supporting documents to USCIS in any of its following locations: Lincoln (LIN) Service Center in Nebraska, Eastern Adjudication Center (EAC) in Vermont, Southern Regional Center (SRC) in Texas, or Western Adjudication Center (WAC) in California.

• Keep the 13-digit case number issued by USCIS and check the petition status.

Apply for an H1B Visa — Employee

If the H1B petition is approved and the applicant is outside the US, he/she needs to get an H1B visa at a US consulate or embassy. The process is similar to a common visa application, including:

• Fill out the DS-160 Form, Non-immigrant Visa Application Form.
• Fulfill payment for US Visa Fee online or at a bank depending on where you apply from.
• Schedule a visa appointment to submit biometrics and have an interview.
• Attend the appointment as scheduled with application forms and required documents.
• Collect the passport with an H1B visa stamp after the officer approves your application.

How to Check H1B Lottery Status?

The processing time of H1B visas varies from center to center and the types of services. Regular H1B visa processing time takes 1-6 months. After your employer files an H1B visa petition, the authority will send a 13-digit case number with which one can check the H1B status on the USCIS website. There are 5 types of status.

• Submitted

The profile has been submitted and remains to be selected.

• Selected

You have been selected in the lottery.

• Not Selected

You failed to be selected and are not eligible to file an H1B cap petition.

• Denied

Your petition has been rejected.

• Invalidated-Failed Payment

The petition has been submitted, but the payment has not been fulfilled. How much it costs to finally receive the visa might vary due to the service and scale of the company. Here is a price list.

How Can I Increase My Chances of Winning the H1B Visa Lottery?

Although the H1B visa lottery picks candidates randomly, there are still some tips to increase the chance of being selected.

💡 Submit Registration as Early as Possible

Every year, some applicants are missing the deadline due to unexpected situations or technical issues. Therefore, early submission allows you to adjust if there is anything wrong and avoid delay.

💡 Double-Check Your Application

Any mistakes or mismatched information can result in disqualification, so please make sure whatever is provided is authentic and accurate, such as name, date of birth, passport number, etc.

💡 Follow Official Guidelines and Instructions

There are strict requirements for entry eligibility, photo specifications, and documentation. Don’t violate the official statement in case of being rejected.

💡 Improve Your Educational Qualifications

A higher level of educational qualifications might be given priority in the H1B visa lottery. Therefore, try to get a diploma before submitting registration if possible.

💡 Seek Professional Assistance If Possible

Immigration attorneys or reputable consultants might not increase the chance of winning, but they can give professional advice and help you review your applications, thus avoiding making mistakes.

FAQ:

Q1: Is it worth going to the USA on H-1B?

A: Yes. Compared with other work visas, this visa type has a wider range of eligibilities and grants a longer time to stay. Additionally, it will also lead to permanent residency.

Q2: What is the age limit for the H-1B visa lottery?

A: There is no official age limit. Please note that the applicant should be at least 18 years old.

Q3: Can I bring my wife on H-1B visa?

A: Yes, if she gets an H4 visa she can work under the H4 EAD program and study in the US.

Q4: Can an H-1B visa be converted to a green card?

A: Yes. It is called H1B to Green Card transfer or the Employment Based Green Card, and it must be initiated by your US employer.

Q5: How many years can I stay in the USA with H-1B?

A: It is valid for 3 years and can be extended to another 3 years. That is to say, you can stay in the US with it for up to 6 years.

Summary

An H1B visa is one type of common work visa designed for foreign nationals of specialty occupations. To obtain the visa, the employer should submit registration for eligible employees. Then H1B cap will be selected in the lottery and a petition should be filed by the employer. Once the petition is approved, get a visa stamp from the US embassy or consulate. The H1B Visa Lottery 2025 is going to start in the next two months and will take a few months. Therefore, it is suggested to find a sponsor and ask him to file applications on behalf of you as early as possible.

📚 Further Reading:

How to Get a Work Visa for the USA

How to Get a US Work Permit (EAD)