FY 2025 H-1B Lottery Results Announced: Key Insights and Next Steps

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 H-1B lottery results, providing critical updates for employers and foreign professionals seeking to work in specialty occupations across the United States. This year’s selection process reflects important procedural changes and highlights ongoing trends in H-1B demand.

Overview of FY 2025 H-1B Lottery Results

• Total Unique Beneficiaries Registered: Approximately 442,000
  
  
• Initial Selections Made: 114,017 beneficiaries
  
  
• Initial Selection Rate: Around 25.8%
  
  

This selection rate reinforces the H-1B program’s competitive nature and the persistent demand for highly skilled foreign talent in the U.S. workforce.

Comparison with Previous Fiscal Years

• Compared to FY 2024, the number of registrations for FY 2025 slightly decreased due to the introduction of the beneficiary-centric selection model.
  
  
• The selection rate modestly increased, suggesting improved fairness and reduced duplicate entries.
  
  

These changes are aligned with USCIS’s effort to promote equitable access and reduce system manipulation.

Second Round of Selections

Due to insufficient filings following the initial selection, USCIS conducted a second lottery round:

• Additional Selections: 13,607 new beneficiaries selected
  
  
• Total Second Round Registrations: 14,534
  
  
• Combined Selection Rate for FY 2025: Approximately 28.5%
  
  

This second round highlights USCIS’s intent to fully utilize the statutory H-1B cap (65,000 regular cap + 20,000 U.S. master’s cap).

Next Steps for Selected Beneficiaries

If selected in either round, the following steps apply:

• Petition Filing: Employers must file Form I-129 (H-1B Petition) for selected beneficiaries within the USCIS-designated filing window.
  
  
• Documentation: Gather all required documentation, including:
  
  
  • Certified Labor Condition Application (LCA)
    
    
  • Valid proof of specialty occupation
    
    
  • Degree evaluations (if applicable)
    
    
• Monitoring: Use the myUSCIS account or the receipt number to track the petition status.
  
  

Options for Non-Selected Beneficiaries

Applicants not selected in the FY 2025 lottery still have viable alternatives:

• Cap-Exempt Employers: Seek employment at universities, nonprofit research institutions, or government research organizations exempt from the cap.
  
  
• Alternative Visa Categories: Consider other visa options such as O-1 (extraordinary ability), L-1 (intra-company transfer), or F-1 (student) with OPT/STEM OPT extensions.
  
  
• Future Participation: Prepare to reapply in future H-1B lotteries and monitor USCIS announcements for procedural changes.
  
  

Staying Compliant and Proactive

Applicants and employers are strongly advised to:

• Stay up to date with official USCIS announcements
  
  
• Retain immigration counsel for strategic filing
  
  
• Avoid duplicate registrations and comply with updated H-1B regulations
  
  

People Also Ask (PAA)

1. What was the selection rate for the FY 2025 H-1B lottery?
   The initial selection rate was approximately 25.8%, increasing to 28.5% after the second selection round.
2. How many beneficiaries were selected in the second round of the FY 2025 H-1B lottery?
   13,607 additional beneficiaries were selected during the second round.
3. What are the next steps for those chosen in the H-1B lottery?
   Employers must file a full H-1B petition during the USCIS-defined filing window with all supporting documentation.
4. Can non-selected H-1B applicants reapply in the next fiscal year?
   Yes. Applicants not selected in FY 2025 can register again in future fiscal year lotteries.
5. Are there alternatives for those not selected in the H-1B lottery?
   Yes. Alternatives include working for cap-exempt employers or pursuing other visa categories like O-1 or F-1.
6. What factors influence the H-1B lottery selection rate?
   The selection rate depends on the number of eligible registrations submitted and the statutory cap limit.
7. How does USCIS notify applicants of H-1B lottery selection?
   Notices are sent to registrants’ myUSCIS online accounts and to authorized legal representatives.
8. Is there a fee to register for the H-1B lottery?
   Yes, the FY 2025 registration fee was $10 per beneficiary, but it will increase to $215 from FY 2026 onward.
9. What is the timeline for filing H-1B petitions after selection?
   USCIS typically opens the filing period in April, shortly after the lottery results are announced.
10. Can an employer submit multiple H-1B registrations for the same beneficiary?
    No. Duplicate registrations by the same employer for the same beneficiary are strictly prohibited and may result in disqualification.