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What are my odds of being selected in the H-1B lottery?
Since the FY2027 cap season (registration in March 2026), USCIS no longer runs a purely random lottery — selection is now weighted by wage level. DHS’s own projections put selection rates at approximately 15% for Level I wages, 31% for Level II, 46% for Level III, and 61% for Level IV. In practice, a higher-paying job offer meaningfully improves your odds of selection.
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How does the new wage-level-based H-1B lottery selection work?
Each registration must now include the OEWS (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics) wage level — I through IV — that the offered salary meets or exceeds for the relevant occupation and location. USCIS enters each registration into the selection pool multiple times based on that level: Level IV registrations are entered 4 times, Level III 3 times, Level II 2 times, and Level I 1 time. Selection is then drawn from this weighted pool rather than a flat random draw.
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How does the H-1B lottery registration process work?
Employers (or their attorney) submit a short electronic registration for each candidate during the registration window, including the required OEWS wage level, and pay a $215 fee per registration. USCIS then runs the weighted selection process described above. Only selected registrants go on to file a full H-1B petition.
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When can I submit my H-1B lottery entry?
USCIS accepts electronic H-1B lottery registrations for the next fiscal year from mid-February to mid-March each year. Applicants must register during this period to participate in the lottery for that year, with the selection process typically concluding in the last week of March.
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What is the H-1B Master’s Cap, and how does it affect my chances?
Of the 85,000 annual H-1B slots, 20,000 are reserved for candidates who hold a master’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution. These candidates are entered into both the general pool and the master’s pool, and the same wage-level weighting now applies within each pool — so a master’s degree still gives you two chances at selection, and a higher wage level improves your odds within both.
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What happens if I’m not selected in the H-1B lottery?
If you’re not selected, your registration simply isn’t chosen for that fiscal year — no petition is filed and no fee beyond the $215 registration applies. You can register again the following year, or discuss alternatives with your attorney, such as cap-exempt employers, other visa categories, or extending OPT/STEM OPT if you’re still eligible.
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Can multiple employers register me for the lottery to improve my odds?
No — each beneficiary gets only one registration per fiscal year, regardless of how many employers might want to sponsor them. Having multiple employers submit separate registrations for the same person specifically to increase selection odds violates USCIS rules and can result in disqualification for all related registrations.
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When can I submit my H-1B application if I am selected in the lottery?
USCIS accepts H-1B applications for the first round of selected candidates from April 1 to June 30 each year. Missing this deadline will result in your application package being returned by USCIS, meaning you have forfeited your selection and H-1B opportunity for that year.
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Should I hire an attorney for the H-1B lottery, or can I register on my own?
Registration itself is straightforward, but the new wage-level requirement adds real complexity — determining the correct OEWS wage level for a role and location, and setting the offered salary to maximize selection odds without over- or under-stating it, both carry real consequences. An attorney can also help you move quickly to prepare the full petition once you’re selected, since the filing window is tight.
