It’s a big day for H-1B aspirants in and outside USA. FY 2024 H-1B Cap initial registration period opens today (March 1st).
Every year, 65,000 people get H1-B visas from the US government; it also issues 20,000 more visas for those wanting to pursue higher studies (MS and other higher degrees).
Due to the high demand USCIS has been conducting a lottery process to select the applicants. A random lottery is conducted to select applicants to fill the 58,200 spots available in the general lottery. (Although there are technically 65,000 visa numbers available in the general H-1B pool, 6,800 of these are reserved for nationals of Singapore or Chile).
A second random lottery (the “master’s cap”) is then conducted among all applicants who were not selected in the first lottery and who have advanced degrees from accredited US universities. An additional 20,000 spots are allocated during this lottery.
So, the MS students who already in U.S. are entered in two separate lottery rounds and have a higher chance of being selected.
The final list will be given out by March 31. Those finding their name on the list can apply for an H1-B visa within 90 days.
However, on the flip side, the applications are likely to go up to 500,000+ this year. Unfortunately, digital applications have only messed up the situation as there is no barrier to entry due to which the applications have skyrocketed.
So, those applying must be prepared for two scenarios. That they have a bleak chance of getting picked in the lottery. Last year 483,927 applications have been submitted which was way higher than available annual quota of 85,000.
