The 2022 H1B Lottery

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How the H1B Visa Lottery Works


The H1B visa category is intended for highly skilled professionals who will be employed in the United States by a company with a U.S. presence. Since the demand for these types of visas is high, the USCIS relies on a lottery system to select applicants that meet the annual quota cap.

The number of H1B visas that can be issued each year is capped at 85,000. Under this visa program, there are also two categories of quotas: regular quotas and Masters quotas. The quotas for the 2022 fiscal year are:

  • H1B Regular Quota: 65,000 visas
  • H1B Master’s Quota: 20,000 visas (only those with a Masters degree are eligible)

As the H1B visa is one of the most sought-after visas for employment in the U.S., there has been an increase in applications in recent years. To address the highly competitive nature of the H1-B visa, the USCIS introduced a lottery system to randomly select qualified applicants until they meet the quota of 85,000 people.

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In the past, employers were required to send fees, H1B LCA, and supporting documents to be eligible for the lottery. To make the process less time-consuming and more streamlined, the USCIS began using a registration process that only requires employers to submit H1B registrations for their applicants through an online system.

The registration fee (which is paid for by the employer) is $10 USD per applicant. Employers also need to fill out a registration form with the applicant’s basic information.

2022 H1B Visa Lottery Registration Process and Timeline

Those seeking to file an H1B cap-subject petition (including beneficiaries who are eligible for the advanced degree exemption) must first register online and pay the $10 registration fee for each beneficiary. The registration process requires basic information about the prospective petitioner (also known as registrants) and each requested worker.

How Do You Find Out if You Were Selected for the H1B 2022 Lottery?

Applicants who are selected in the initial round of the lottery should receive a notification within 14 days of selection. Employers can also find out if applicants were selected from the following:

  • myUSCIS online. Check your myUSCIS online account, which will be automatically updated with a status change in the beneficiary was selected.
  • Official documentation. The USCIS sends out Form I-797 to announce you were selected.
  • The H1-B receipt number. Each employer was assigned a 13-digit receipt number while registering their beneficiary, which is sent to them via mail.
  • The H1b tracker. Track the approval process online using the H1B tracker forum.
  • Cashed check. Each petition requires the fee to be filed by check. If the check has been cashed, this indicates that your petition was selected.

Get Assistance Filing Your H1-B Petition

If you would like more information about the H1B lottery, filing a petition, or other assistance on your case, please contact Ranchod Law Group at 916-613-3553 or email us at info@ranchodlaw.com.