US H1B Visa Lottery: Registration, Required Documents & Status

The H1B visa is a popular option for many wanting to work in the US.

This page has details about the H1B lottery: the important documents you need and the steps to register. If you’re thinking about working in the US, it’s good to know about this. Make sure you have all the right information and follow the rules to apply

What is the H1B Visa Lottery?

The H1B visa lets skilled workers from other countries work in the US. There are more people who want it than there are visas available. So, there’s a lottery.

Points to Remember:

• Purpose: To let skilled workers from other places work in the US.
• Lottery System: Not everyone gets it, so there’s a random drawing.
• Limited Numbers: There’s a cap, meaning only a certain number can get this visa each year.

Key Dates for H-1B Registration

Every process has a start and end. Here are the vital dates.

• Start Date: March 1, 2023, at 12 p.m. EST.
• End Date: March 17, 2023, at 12 p.m. EST.

After these dates, the USCIS, the group in charge, picks applications at random. They have a set number to pick:

• 20,000 for those with master’s degrees from the US.
• 65,000 for everyone else.
• A bonus: 6,800 visas are just for workers from Chile and Singapore.

By the end of March, the USCIS tells who got picked.

Points to Remember:

• Important Dates: Don’t miss the start and end dates.
• Set Numbers: There’s a limit on how many get picked.
• Special Set Aside: Some visas are just for certain countries.

How to Submit for H-1B Lottery?

There’s a way to do it right.

1. First Step: Make a user account with USCIS.
2. When: Starting March 1, 2023, the website is open for entries.
3. Cost: There’s a $10 sign-up fee. The worker doesn’t pay this; usually, the employer does.
4. Chance: Signing up doesn’t promise you’ll get picked. It just gives you a shot.

Points to Remember:

• Online Process: It’s all done on the internet.
• Fee: There’s a small charge to enter.
• No Guarantees: It’s a game of chance.

What Documents are Needed?

When signing up, you must share some details. Here’s a list:

• For the Employer: The company’s name, FEIN (like an ID number), address, how to contact them, and who their lawyer is.
• For the Worker: The worker’s full name, when they were born, where they live, what country they’re from, their passport number, and their gender (male or female).
• Extra: USCIS also wants to know where the worker went to school and what they studied.

Points to Remember:

• Details Matter: You need to provide correct and clear info.
• Two Sets: Some details are for the company, and some are for the worker.

How to Check H-1B Lottery Status?

After signing up, you’ll want to see if you got picked. Here’s how it looks:

• Selected: Great news! You got picked. Now, the company can do more paperwork.
• Submitted: You’re in the system. Now, wait and see if you get moved to “Selected” or “Not Selected.”
• Not Selected: Not this time. You didn’t get picked.

Points to Remember:

• Three Possibilities: You can be picked, not picked, or waiting.
• Stay Patient: It takes time to see the results.

What Happens if Picked?

If you’re one of the lucky ones, here’s what comes next:

• You’ll get a letter. It’s called Form I-797C, Notice of Action.
• This letter will tell you lots of things like if you were chosen, and other details.
• If you did get picked, there’s a last date by which the company has to send in more forms.

Points to Remember:

• Letter from USCIS: This is how they tell you the news.
• More Steps: If picked, there’s more to do.

Regular vs. Master’s H-1B

Some might wonder about the difference between regular H1B and one for those with a master’s.

• Master’s H-1B: To be in this group, you need a master’s degree or higher, but it must be from a US school.
• Regular H-1B: If you have just a normal degree or a master’s from another place, you’re in this group.

Points to Remember:

• Degree Matters: The type and place of your degree decide which group you’re in.
• Two Chances: Being in the H1B visa lottery means you have two shots to get picked: once with everyone, and if you have a US master’s, another shot with just that group.

That’s the H1B visa lottery in simple words. Remember, rules can change, so always stay updated. Good luck to all trying for it!