A tech employee in the US has triggered an online debate after sharing his confusing H-1B visa experience involving multiple conflicting updates from his company. The employee claimed he received different responses during three consecutive H-1B lottery seasons.
The Senior Test Engineer, currently working on STEM OPT at HCLTech
in Virginia, shared his story on Reddit. According to the post, his work authorisation remains valid until September 2026, but he still does not know if his latest H-1B registration was actually submitted.
The employee alleged that the company refused to apply for his H-1B in 2024, saying he was too new to the organisation. The following year, HR reportedly claimed his application had been submitted, but he said he never received any registration proof, receipt number, or official confirmation.
Later, he reportedly received an email stating that he was not selected in the lottery. However, the lack of supporting documents left him uncertain about whether the registration had actually been filed.
During this year’s H-1B lottery season, the employee claimed HR initially refused sponsorship again. He even discussed switching companies with his manager due to the uncertainty surrounding his visa future.
According to the Reddit post, HR suddenly asked for his documents and details close to the registration deadline. After the lottery results were announced, the employee said there was complete silence from the company without any selection or rejection update.
The techie claimed managers later verbally informed him that he was not selected. However, the inconsistent communication reportedly made him question whether the company had entered his name in the lottery at all.
After repeatedly seeking clarification, another manager allegedly informed him that the company never filed the H-1B application. The employee said he felt shocked and misled after losing another year in the lottery process.
The incident has now sparked wider discussions online about transparency in H-1B sponsorship processes. Several users responding to the post claimed they had experienced similar confusion regarding their visa applications and employer communication.
