H-1B Cap Lottery, Round Two: Selection Results Have Been Released

On the heels of a surprise announcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has conducted a second round of H-1B cap lottery selections. This move was much-anticipated by employers and foreign national workers alike.

Quick Hits

• The new selections were taken from the existing pool of H-1B registrations entered in March 2023.
• Employers may want to check their USCIS accounts for new selection notices.
• The filing window for the second round of selections will be open from August 2, 2023, to October 31, 2023.

Background on the H-1B Cap Lottery

Each fiscal year (FY), the total number of new H-1B visas available for issuance is capped at 85,000. This includes a general quota of 65,000 visas, as well as 20,000 visas reserved for foreign national workers who have received qualifying master's degree or higher degrees from U.S. higher education institutions. If USCIS receives more H-1B petitions for new beneficiaries than available H-1B visas in