H1B 2025 Lottery Results: Selection Notices Arriving, No Official Announcement Yet

The eagerly anticipated H1B visa lottery results for the fiscal year 2025 have begun trickling in, despite the lack of an official announcement from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The registration period for the FY 2025 H1B visas ran from March 6th to March 25th, 2024, and many applicants and attorneys have been anxiously awaiting the outcome.

Official USCIS Announcement Pending

As of March 28th, 2024, at 1:00 pm PST, USCIS has not released an official press release or alert regarding the H1B lottery results for the fiscal year 2025. The official announcement is expected to be made only after all the H1B selection notices have been sent out, which typically takes a few days following the initial release of results.

Unofficial Updates and Confirmation

Though no official USCIS announcement has come down, numerous users and attorneys have confirmed receiving H1B lottery selection notices in their USCIS H1B registration accounts for the FY 2025 season. 

This year, the results started arriving on a Wednesday evening, deviating from the previous years’ pattern of Friday evening announcements.

Several law firms and attorneys have shared updates on social media platforms confirming the receipt of H1B selection notices for their clients. 

Houston-based immigration attorney Steven Brown wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “#H1Bregistration selection notices are coming in!”

Chand Parvathaneni, a Dallas-based immigration lawyer, double-confirmed that selection notices have been sent, writing, “H-1B lottery selections have started. The portal is slowly getting updated and you should be able to login to your employer portals to find out the selections. #uscis #h1bregistration #h1blottery #h1b.”

Additionally, some applicants have reported being informed by their employers about their selection in the H1B lottery for the FY 2025 season.

As of this writing, however, that vast majority of H1B applicants have yet to received selection updates at all. In a recently poll on Reddit, out of ~1000 users polled, more than 900 had not gotten an update yet.

This is good news for those who have not yet received an update. Many experts are encouraging applicants to be patient at this time. Lawyers and HR departments are, seemingly, receiving this information at random. If you’re working with a larger immigration law firm, chances are they are overwhelmed with emails and calls on this topic.

What Happens Next?

The immigration law firm Reddy & Neumann, P.C. aired a livestream discussing what H1B lottery applicants should expect moving forward. The livestream is worth viewing, but here is their guidance distilled:

• Checking Selection Status: Selection notices are distributed in batches, and it might take some time for all notices to be sent out. If you haven’t received a notification yet, don’t panic. The selection process continues over several days, and notices may come in at any time during this period.
• For Employers and Attorneys: The selection notices appear in the myUSCIS account of the attorney and the company. Beneficiaries themselves do not receive direct notifications. It may take time for employers and attorneys to go through their accounts, identify who has been selected, download the selection notices, and then reach out to the beneficiaries.
• After Selection: If you are selected, begin preparing your documentation as soon as possible. This includes educational documents, status documents (e.g., I-20s, EAD cards), and any other required paperwork. Ensure all documents are in digital format for easy transmission to your employer or their attorney for the filing process.
• Filing the Petition: The deadline to file the H1B petition is June 30th, but it’s advised not to wait until the last minute. Those with OPT expiring before the H1B start date should be particularly prompt to benefit from the cap-gap extension.
• Cap-Gap Extension: For those on F1 status with OPT expiring before October 1st, filing a change of status petition before OPT expiration can extend work authorization until September 30th. This cap-gap extension, however, only applies if a petition is filed and requests a change of status.
• Filing for Dependents: If you have dependents on visas like F2 or L2, remember to file for their H4 status concurrently with your H1B petition to ensure they maintain their status once you switch to H1B.
• If Not Selected: If you aren’t selected in the lottery, USCIS may conduct additional lotteries, but this is not guaranteed. Keep an eye on your myUSCIS account for any updates. In the meantime, explore other visa options if applicable.
• Staying Updated: Keep in touch with your employer or attorney for the latest information regarding your case. USCIS will also provide official announcements regarding the completion of the lottery process and the number of selections made.

Insights from the H1B FY 2024 and FY 2023 Rollouts

In the FY 2024 season, H1B lottery results started coming out four days after the registration period closed, with the official announcement made seven days later. Similarly, for the FY 2023 season, results began trickling in on March 25th, 2022, with the official announcement on March 29th, 2022. These patterns provide insight into the potential timeline for the FY 2025 season results.

Checking H1B Lottery Results

H1B applicants cannot check their lottery results online independently.

Only employers or attorneys who submitted the H1B registration can access the USCIS H1B registration system to view the lottery results. Applicants must contact their employer or attorney to inquire about their H1B lottery outcome.

H1B 2025 Lottery Results Timeline

As noted above, the H1B 2025 lottery results are released in batches over several days, and it may take up to a week for all selection notices to be generated and communicated.

Applicants should remain patient and await updates from their employers, as the absence of an immediate notification does not necessarily indicate non-selection.

Understanding the H1B Registration Selection Notice

The H1B registration selection notice for the FY 2025 season is an I-797C Notice of Action, similar to other visa-related notices.

The notice contains important information, such as the beneficiary confirmation number, case type, received date, prospective petitioner, and notice date. It also specifies the filing dates for submitting the H1B petition, which is from April 1st to June 30th, 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions applicants have about the H1B lottery results:

Is it possible to transfer an H1B registration selection notice to another company? 

No, the company that submitted the H1B registration is the only one that can file the H1B petition for the applicant.

Will there be a second-round lottery for the FY 2025 season?

The occurrence of subsequent lottery rounds varies each year and depends on the number of initial selections. More information will be available after the official USCIS announcement.

Final Thoughts

As the H1B 2025 lottery results continue to unfold, applicants and stakeholders are advised to stay informed, communicate with their employers or attorneys, and await the official USCIS announcement for complete details on the FY 2025 H1B visa season.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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