Why there is a lottery
Congress caps new cap-subject H-1B visas at 85,000 per fiscal year — 65,000 in the regular cap plus 20,000 reserved for people with a US master's degree or higher. Demand routinely runs several times higher than supply, so USCIS cannot simply approve everyone who qualifies. The lottery is the random mechanism that decides who even gets to file a petition.
Cap-exempt employers — universities and their affiliated nonprofits, nonprofit research organizations, and government research bodies — are not subject to the cap or the lottery and can file year-round.
How registration and selection work
Each spring, during a registration window in March, employers create accounts and electronically register each prospective worker, paying a per-registration fee. Registration is lightweight — it does not require the full petition up front.
USCIS then runs a random selection. Under the beneficiary-centric approach used in recent years, each unique individual is entered only once regardless of how many employers register them, which curbs the practice of multiple companies flooding the system for one person. Selected registrations are notified and may proceed to file the full Form I-129 petition.
Your odds and the master's advantage
Selection odds vary year to year with the number of registrations, but in recent high-demand years the chance for a single registration has often fallen in the rough range of 1-in-4 to 1-in-3. Holders of a qualifying US master's degree get two chances: the advanced-degree exemption draw runs first, and unselected master's registrations then join the regular pool.
There is nothing an applicant can do to improve random odds, but a clean, accurate registration and (where genuine) eligibility for the master's cap both matter. Beware anyone promising guaranteed selection — that is a scam.
If you are not selected — and what comes next
Not selected does not mean you did poorly; it is luck. Common fallback options include staying on current status (such as F-1 OPT/STEM OPT), trying again next year, pursuing a cap-exempt H-1B with a university or nonprofit, or exploring other work categories like the O-1, L-1, or TN. Some applicants also pursue a different country's skilled route entirely.
If you are selected, the employer files the I-129 petition and the case proceeds as described in our H-1B process guide, with cap-subject employment starting October 1. See our H-1B cost guide for the fees involved.
H-1B Annual Cap & Lottery Selection Rates (Recent Years)
| Fiscal Year | Registrations Received | Regular Cap (65K) Rate | Master's Cap (20K) Rate | Notable Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (Mar 2025) | ~470,342 | ~14% | ~27% | New $215 registration fee |
| FY 2025 (Mar 2024) | ~479,952 | ~14% | ~27% | Second selection run in July 2024 |
| FY 2024 (Mar 2023) | ~758,994 | ~9% | ~18% | Highest ever; 2nd and 3rd rounds ran |
| FY 2023 (Mar 2022) | ~483,927 | ~13.5% | ~27% | |
| FY 2022 (Mar 2021) | ~308,613 | ~21% | ~41% | First year of electronic registration |
| Annual cap breakdown | 65,000 regular + 20,000 master's | Total: 85,000 | — | Cap unchanged since 2004 |
Related Questions
What are the odds of winning the H-1B lottery?
They change each year with demand, but in recent high-demand years a single registration has often had roughly a 1-in-4 to 1-in-3 chance. Master's-degree holders get an extra draw, improving their overall odds.
When is H-1B registration?
Employers register candidates during a window in March each year. USCIS runs the random selection shortly after, and cap-subject employment can begin October 1.
Does a master's degree help in the H-1B lottery?
Yes. Holders of a qualifying US master's degree or higher are entered in a separate advanced-degree draw first, and if not selected there, they also join the regular pool — effectively two chances.
What happens if I'm not selected in the H-1B lottery?
You can remain on your current status if eligible, re-register next year, look for a cap-exempt H-1B (university or nonprofit), or pursue alternatives such as O-1, L-1, or TN visas.
Can I improve my chances of being selected?
No one can change the random odds. Be wary of anyone guaranteeing selection. The only legitimate edge is qualifying for the US master's-degree cap, which adds a second draw.
Official Sources
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees and processing times change; always confirm with the official government source before acting.