As we have covered before, the H-1B FY 2025 Lottery opened at the beginning of this month. On March 6th, 2024, the USCIS started accepting H-1B Visa registrations. The initial deadline for H-1B registrations was March 22nd but it was pushed to March 25th, 2024 as we have also discussed.
Since the end of the H-1B Lottery registration period, everyone has been keeping an eye out for any news of the lottery results. Typically, the USCIS silently begins to send the lottery selection results before announcing any results publicly. This year is no different. We have begun to see the H-1B Visa results trickle in before the official announcement goes out.
In this article, we will show you all the current updates we have on the H-1B Lottery results, both official and unofficial announcements. Stay tuned with this article for the most up to date information up to the date of the official announcement.
Changes In the FY 2025 Lottery Process
As we covered in a previous article, the USCIS announced on January 31, 2024 all the major registration dates for the H-1B FY 2025 season along with changes to the selection process, online H-1B petition filing options, and a few other updates
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Safe to say, the FY 2025 season is going to look different than the past seasons. We have already begun to see that in the official announcement timeline.
Previous Announcement Patterns
For instance, in the FY 2024 season, results began appearing on March 24th, 2023, with the official announcement made on March 27th, 2023. Similarly, for the FY 2023 season, results were observed starting on March 25th, 2022, with the official announcement following on March 29th, 2022.
Based on what we know from the previous H-1B lottery result announcement timelines, we were expecting the official announcement to be released on Friday March 29, 2024. However, we haven’t gotten an official announcement just yet. It is clear the pattern this year is going to be quite different from the past years’.
2025 Lottery Results Unveiled
Contrary to past trends, this year’s lottery results for the FY 2025 season have emerged differently. We have begun to hear from our discussion pages on our H-1B Visa Forums on Trackitt–a forum we have created for immigrants to connect and corroborate their experiences with the immigration process–some users have started to share the results info about their selections. Furthermore, many lawyers have begun to post updates and important information relating to the H-1B lottery selection process through quick updates on Twitter.
As of March 30th, 2024, reports indicate that many users and attorneys have started to receive H-1B lottery selection notices in their USCIS accounts. Interestingly, notifications were not sent out by USCIS; instead, individuals had to manually check their accounts for updates.
Unofficial Updates
On March 27th, 2024, USCIS started to send out notification emails to employers whose registration entries were selected in the H-1B 2025 Lottery. These emails prompt recipients to log in to their accounts to access the H-1B Registration Selection Notice.
March 29th 2024
Many lawyers started to note that there are glitches in the USCIS announcement system.
👀Fiscal Year 2025 H-1B cap petitioners: random selections have been made and notifications are being sent to myUSCIS accounts beginning yesterday and continuing over the next few days prior to April 1.
— USCIS (@USCIS) March 28, 2024
March 30th 2024
The glitch might be getting fixed. Lawyers are starting to see an uptick in the number of selection notices that they are receiving.
Official Updates
March 30th 2024
The USCIS made an official announcement through their Twitter page. In the post, they say that they conducted the H-1B Lottery for the FY 2024 season and have begun sending the selection notifications since March 28th 2024 and will continue to do so until April 1st 2024.
As of now, they have yet to release any information on the glitch that many attorneys noticed nor have they discussed any measures that they are taking to fix it. Stay tuned for any updates on the glitch.
👀Due to a glitch, H-1B lottery selections in some case are still showing up as Submitted even though they have been Selected. 🙄 By clicking on View submission for Submitted cases, we have unearthed additional selection notices. #H1B #immigration #techjobs #USVisa #H1Blottery pic.twitter.com/8IHrjBYKCt
— Emily Neumann (@immigrationgirl) March 29, 2024
April 1st 2024
The USCIS made an official announcement in a press release that they have reached the cap for the FY 2024 round one lottery selection. They stated that all the email notifications have been sent.
If you didn’t get selected in this round, please do not get discouraged. There might be opportunity for a second H-1B lottery round this year.
Awaiting Official Confirmation
Despite the influx of unofficial updates, USCIS is yet to issue an official announcement. It’s important to note that USCIS typically releases official updates after completing the dispatch of all selection notices, often in batches.
How to Check H-1B Lottery Results For Yourself
For applicants eager to check their H-1B lottery results, we completely understand. It is hard to wait on someone else to inform you of results that can mean so much to you. It is essential to understand the process. If you would like to get a better understanding of the process, make sure to check in with our comprehensive H-1B Visa guides dedicated to walk you through the H-1B Visa process, step-by-step.
Unfortunately, applicants cannot independently access lottery results online. Instead, they must contact their employer or attorney, who can log in to the USCIS H-1B registration system to view the status. Employers usually receive electronic notifications prompting them to check the results and download the selection notice, which they can then share with the respective applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I check H-1B Lottery results for FY 2025 online by myself as an applicant?
Unfortunately, no, applicants cannot independently access the results online. Only employers or attorneys who submitted registrations can view the results through the USCIS online system.
What should I do if my employer or law firm is not responding to my questions?
Applicants should continue following up with their employers or attorneys. Many employers wait to inform applicants collectively to avoid confusion.
My Employer said I was selected, but does not share the selection notice, can I get it online?
No, applicants cannot access the selection notice online. Only the submitting employer can retrieve it from the USCIS system.
What if I haven’t received a notification on the H-1B lottery results yet?
Until USCIS issues an official update confirming completion of notifications, there’s still hope. Applicants are advised to remain patient.
Will there be a Second round Lottery for FY 2025 Season?
We don’t know yet. It varies each year. Whether there will be additional rounds depends on factors such as the number of selections made in the initial round. Applicants are advised to stay updated on USCIS announcements for further details.