The U.S. has completed a second round of random lottery selection for the H-1B work visa. The second lottery round was conducted due to the large number of unqualified applications that succeeded in the initial lottery.
This is just the first update about the second round of the lottery. The exact number of applications that got picked and rejected hasn’t been revealed yet. More details are awaited.
USCIS expressed concerns about fraud and multiple eligible registrations, potentially giving an unfair advantage to some applicants. The H-1B cap for fiscal year 2024 has been reached, and successful applicants have been notified.
USCIS has experienced a substantial rise in H-1B visa applications, with unofficial sources estimating over 700,000 applications this year, compared to 480,000 last year. Consequently, the agency has intensified its efforts in investigating potential fraud cases, leading to denials, revocations, and law enforcement referrals for criminal prosecution.
According to the USCIS, they are working on a modernization rule to further prevent misuse and fraud in the H-1B registration system. USCIS has implemented an electronic registration process to streamline the selection process, reducing paperwork and costs for both employers and the agency.
