An overhaul of the annual lottery process for H-1B specialty occupation visas is expected to provide better opportunities for foreign workers in tech and other high-demand fields this year.
Employers can now begin submitting registrations for visas for fiscal year 2025, marking the initial step before a randomized lottery determines which applicants can proceed with visa petitions.
Unlike previous years, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will base lottery selections on individual workers rather than the total number of submissions made on their behalf. This change aims to curb fraud by preventing companies from submitting multiple registrations for individual workers without legitimate job offers.
The shift in the lottery process has been widely welcomed by employers, offering a glimmer of hope to foreign workers facing increasingly tough odds of securing one of the limited 85,000 visa slots available each year.
Jill Bloom, a partner at Fragomen Del Rey Bernsen & Loewy LLP, commented, “Employers are happy. They’re glad that USCIS is taking action to fix a clear problem.”
While the lottery overhaul brings relief to employers seeking to attract foreign talent, they are also preparing for new visa fee hikes for the first time in nearly a decade. Additionally, potential changes to eligibility criteria for H-1B visas later this year are on the horizon, prompting further anticipation and adjustment within the industry.
