Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 20 JULY 2018

Still An Unsolved Mystery – The H-1B Visa Lottery Process

Womble Bond Dickinson
Explore more from Womble Bond Dickinson

Not unlike the stone heads of Easter Island, the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, and the number of licks required to reach the center of Tootsie Pop, the H-1B visa lottery remains an enigma to many.

United StatesImmigration
Jennifer Cory
Jennifer Cory
Author LinkedIn connections

Not unlike the stone heads of Easter Island, the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, and the number of licks required to reach the center of Tootsie Pop, the H-1B visa lottery remains an enigma to many.

A statutory cap limits annual approval of new H-1B visa petitions at 65,000, with an additional 20,000 available for individuals with U.S. Masters or higher degrees. The H-1B visa is often the only viable option for temporary employment of a professional worker. High demand coupled with a limited supply results in U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) randomly selecting a total of 85,000 H-1B visa petitions received the first five (5) business days of April each year.

On Wednesday, June 27, 2018, the Office of the USCIS Ombudsman held a teleconference to discuss the H-1B visa lottery process and how USCIS processed the over 190,000 H-1B visa petitions received during the Fiscal Year 2019 filing period, which ran from April 2-6, 2018. During the

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

October 2026 Visa Bulletin Advances EB-5 Filing Date For Mainland China By 4 Years

The U.S. Department of State has released the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, marking the start of fiscal year 2027 with significant changes to employment-based immigrant visa categories. How will the advancement of priority dates, particularly the substantial four-year leap for mainland China-born EB-5 investors in the Dates for Filing chart, impact eligible applicants seeking adjustment of status benefits?
GlobalImmigration
Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig
Article

DHS Continues Work Authorization For Ukrainian, Sudanese TPS Beneficiaries; I-9 Guidance Remains Unclear

The Department of Homeland Security has not issued formal determinations for Temporary Protected Status designations for Ukraine and Sudan despite the October 19, 2026 expiration date, creating uncertainty for employers navigating Form I-9 compliance and employment authorization documentation. USCIS states that affected individuals retain TPS protections and work authorization, but has not updated operational guidance to explain how employers should document continued employment eligibility or handle
United StatesImmigration
Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig
Article

DHS Proposes $70,000 And $30,000 Fees For F-1 Optional Practical Training

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a controversial new rule requiring SEVP-certified schools to pay substantial fees—$70,000 for a student's first Optional Practical Training recommendation and $30,000 for each subsequent OPT application, including STEM extensions. With only a 30-day comment period and potential annual costs reaching up to $16.5 billion across nearly 2,500 affected institutions, the proposed regulation is expected to face significant legal challenges if finalized.
United StatesImmigration
Duane Morris LLP
Duane Morris LLP