USCIS Concludes Second H-1B Visa Lottery for FY 2025
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced the completion of a second lottery for H-1B visa registrations for the fiscal year 2025. This additional selection was necessary to reach the annual cap of 85,000 new H-1B visas, which includes 20,000 visas reserved for the advanced degree exemption, designated for individuals who have earned a U.S. master’s degree or higher.
During the initial selection, USCIS had already met the quota for the advanced degree exemption; therefore, the second lottery focused solely on the remaining pool from the March 2024 registration period. This pool included both regular cap candidates and those who qualified for the master’s cap but were not selected in the first round. No separate lottery was conducted exclusively for advanced degree exemptions this time around.
Employers can now check the results of this second lottery through their MyUSCIS accounts. Selected registrants have from August 8, 2024, to November 7, 2024, to file their H-1B cap-subject petitions. These must be submitted at the correct filing location specified on their registration selection notice or online at my.uscis.gov, and must include the correct fees and the new edition of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker.
Additionally, due to a final rule published on January 31, 2024, most immigration application and petition fees have been adjusted as of April 1, 2024. This includes an increase in the premium processing fee effective February 26, 2024, which petitioners must comply with when submitting Form I-907 postmarked on or after this date.
The USCIS continues to enforce strict compliance with all regulatory requirements for filing, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the updated procedures and fee schedules to ensure the success of the H-1B visa petitions. This ensures a fair and systematic approach to handling the limited availability of H-1B visas and maintains the integrity of the program.
Have Immigration Questions?
Our federal immigration attorney Seth Finberg handles H-1B, EB-1, EB-2 NIW, O-1, EB-5, E-2, and removal defense cases nationwide.
📞 (305) 707-8787 | 🌐 Learn more about Seth Finberg | 📅 Schedule a Consultation