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.
See all posts Frank GogolMBA on an H1 Visa: How to Increase Your Chances + What To Know
Updated on April 10, 2024
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You might be considering if you should study an MS or MBA in the US to increase your chances of attaining employment and getting sponsored by a company in the US. However, whether you fall under the Advanced Degree cap or Regular cap for an H1B visa, there is still an element of luck in getting an H1B visa.
Let’s go over some of the H1B Visa Lottery basics first.
H1B Visa Lottery Process — General Information
What is the H1B Lottery, and how does the process work?
Basically, it is a computer-generated, random selection process of H1B visas that you can be selected for if you want to work in the United States. Many people think they can simply buy a lottery ticket to receive an H1B visa, but that is not how it works.
You need to go through an exhaustive process to file a petition with an employer for your H1B visa. Once you have applied for the visa, your chance of winning the H1B visa depends solely on a random algorithm, called the H1B Visa Lottery Process. If you win the H1B visa lottery you will get a temporary work permit so that you can work in the United States.
The problem with this lottery is that it doesn’t take into account how highly educated you are, because you may have a degree from Harvard or Yale and still not get the visa. Getting it depends entirely on the outcomes of the H1B Lottery system.
Although the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officially calls it a computer-generated selection process, you can’t help but feel like you need a little luck to win the jackpot to secure your stay to work in the United States.
Many people pursue an MS or an MBA in the United States so that they can have better chances at winning the H1B Lottery in the special Advanced Degree category (reserved for those who have a Masters or MBA degree). This is a logical move for wanting to study an MS or MBA in the United States, but it might not be the best one for you. Let us explain why.
Studying for an MS or an MBA in the United States
Why should I study for an MBA in the US as a nonresident?
Studying a master’s degree or an MBA will bring certain advantages to you, but it always depends on your career goals. Studying a master’s degree in the US is not a bad idea, and for many, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The United States is home to some of the world’s top universities, including the likes of Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, all of which are world-leaders in technology, research, and innovation.
But you must consider the cost and benefits of pursuing higher education in the US, and ask yourself if getting a master’s degree in the US will serve a purpose for your future in the US.
Why you shouldn’t get an MBA as an immigrant
If you are passionate about the study you want to pursue, aware of the costs of doing so, and possibly want to work in top management for a company in the United States, then our answer is: go for it!
However, if you only want to do a master’s or MBA degree in the US because you think it is the best way to increase your chances at winning the H1B Lottery, then you are pursuing higher education for all the wrong reasons.
A master’s or MBA degree from a top accredited university might give you a slight edge in being approved for an H1B visa, but a lottery is still a lottery, and the random algorithm will not take into account that you spent $100,000 on the best master’s program in the best school in the United States. In the H1B lottery, you are simply a number — so you must ask yourself: is it really important for you to spend thousands of dollars getting a master’s degree from the US?
Although you can use
Do my chances of working in the US increase after obtaining a Master’s degree?
Unfortunately, no. You might obtain a higher job position and higher payment with a master’s degree, but your chances of winning the H1B lottery is equal to those pursuing an H1B who only have a Bachelor’s degree. The advantage of doing a master’s or MBA in the US is that during your studies, you will be able to do a Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and then after your studies, do an Optional Practical Training (OPT).
If you choose to do a CPT or OPT training, you will be able to work a total of 29 months while studying a STEM degree (a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
This is why some people choose to pursue higher education in the US.
The decision of studying a master’s or an MBA in the United States is definitely a tough one, but consider the fact that you can get really far simply by having a Bachelor’s degree. If you really dream of living and working in the US, there are other opportunities available to you other than choosing to study at an expensive master’s program.
How can I work and live in the US without having to get a master’s degree?
Your ultimate dream is to live and work in the United States, and you think your dream will only come true if you study for a Master’s or MBA degree in the US. However, we are here to show you that there are other, less expensive ways to do so.
2 of the Best Ways to Work and Live in the US without Having to Get a Master’s Degree
- Find a US-based company that is able to sponsor an H1B Visa
- Find a company in your home country that sends people to the US to work for an L1 Visa
Remember: your chances of winning the H1B lottery do not depend on your degree — they depend on a random-selection system.
So in order to put your destiny in your own hands, we recommend that you find a company that is eager to sponsor an H1B visa for you. You should only aim towards obtaining a master’s if you are passionate about it. Otherwise, please don’t do it; save your time and money by choosing one of the two above-mentioned options.
Loans for Visa Holders!
Loans for up to $25,000. No cosigner required. No prepayment penalty.
The key to nonresident job search
Our personal recommendation is to be self-confident and proactive in your job search with your Bachelor’s degree. If you are a good highly-skilled employee and have a lot of highly-specialized experience, we are positive there is a company willing to sponsor an H1B visa for you.
After securing your job in the US, the company you work for might even pay for you to get a master’s degree, so the option will always be there in even more attractive ways afterward! You can choose to study a master’s degree after you find out what you are most passionate about, and can weigh whether or not obtaining a master’s degree is in line with the professional career goals you have set for yourself.
We hope our article has helped you in your decision-making process and we wish you all the best in your future career goals!
If you have opinions on the pros and cons of getting a masters degree and what it means for your H1B visa success, please comment below. And, if you have any further questions on H1B visas, get in contact with us and we will help you however we can on your H1B journey!
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.