Educational only. Not legal, immigration, tax, or financial advice. Verify with USCIS and a licensed immigration attorney.
Will There Be a Second H1B Lottery?
~7 min read · Reviewed each cap season
Quick answer
Is a second H1B lottery guaranteed?
The H-1B cap is 65,000 regular visas plus 20,000 reserved for holders of a U.S. master’s degree or higher — 85,000 in total. USCIS deliberately selects more registrations than that in the first round, because it knows not every selected registration becomes a filed, approvable petition. Some employers decide not to file, some petitions are withdrawn, and some are denied. When the number of actual petitions falls short of the cap, USCIS can reopen the pool and run another selection round to use the full allocation. That is what people mean by a “second lottery.”
How it works
How additional selection rounds work
The mechanics
- ✓Later rounds draw from the same registration pool already submitted for that fiscal year.
- ✓You do not submit a new registration — eligibility carries over automatically.
- ✓A newly selected registration flips from “Submitted” to “Selected” in the employer's account.
- ✓The employer then gets a fresh filing window to file the petition.
The uncertainty
- ✓USCIS decides whether a round is needed based on petition volume — you can't force it.
- ✓There is no fixed date; rounds have historically come months after the first selection.
- ✓Some years have multiple additional rounds; some years have none.
Status
“Submitted” vs “Not Selected”
This distinction matters. A registration that was not chosen in a round stays “Submitted” — meaning it is still in the pool and can be picked in a later round — rather than immediately becoming “Not Selected.” So if your employer tells you your status is Submitted, do not treat the year as over. For a full breakdown of every status, see the registration status meaning guide.
| Status | Still in the running? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Submitted | Yes — eligible for later rounds. | Keep your registration and details current; watch for USCIS updates. |
| Selected | You've been chosen. | Move to the selected next-steps checklist and prepare to file. |
| Not Selected | No — the year is effectively closed for you. | Shift to backup options: STEM OPT, cap-exempt, L-1, re-register next year. |
What to do
What Indian applicants should do
Monitor the right sources
Stay ready either way
- ✓Keep your employer registration active and your personal details current with the attorney.
- ✓Maintain valid status (OPT/STEM OPT or other) so you're eligible if a later round selects you.
- ✓Keep your documents organized so your employer can file quickly if you're picked.
- ✓Have a backup plan (STEM OPT, cap-exempt, next year) ready in case no second round happens.
- ✓Keep a financial cushion so waiting doesn't force a rushed decision.
Back to the hub
Return to the H1B Lottery Results hub for how to check results, what each status means, and the NRI money checklist.
Frequently asked questions
- Will there be a second H1B lottery this year?
- Maybe. USCIS can run additional selection rounds if it does not receive enough petitions from earlier rounds to reach the annual cap. It has done this in several past years, but it is never guaranteed and is not announced in advance. Watch official USCIS updates and your employer/attorney communication rather than relying on rumors.
- Do I need to register again for a second H1B lottery?
- No. Additional selection rounds pull from the same pool of registrations that were already submitted for that fiscal year. If your registration status is still "Submitted," it remains eligible for a later round automatically — you and your employer do not submit a new registration.
- Why does USCIS run a second lottery?
- The lottery selects more registrations than the cap because not every selected registration turns into a filed petition — some employers don't file, some withdraw, and some petitions are denied. If the number of actual petitions falls short of the 85,000-visa cap, USCIS runs another selection round from the remaining pool to use the full allocation.
- My status says "Submitted," not "Not Selected." What does that mean?
- A "Submitted" status means your registration is still in the pool and was not chosen in the round(s) run so far — but it stays eligible for any additional selection round in the same fiscal year. It only becomes effectively final for the year once USCIS closes the door on further selections.
- How will I find out if I'm selected in a later round?
- The same way as the first round: your status changes to "Selected" inside the employer's USCIS organizational account, and your employer or its immigration attorney informs you. USCIS also posts an official update on its website when it runs an additional round.
Deepak Middha, CA, Series 65Founder & Author
Deepak has experience in cross-border finance, tax-aware planning, and immigrant money decisions. View full profile →
Educational content, not personalized tax, legal, immigration, or financial advice. Rules, fees, and processing times change — always verify with the official source before acting.
Related guides and tools
H1B Lottery Results Hub
How to check status, meaning, and next steps
Registration Status Meaning
Why Submitted is not the same as Not Selected
Not Selected: Options
Backup plans if no second round selects you
Results Date & Timeline
When first and later rounds are announced
H1B Lottery Chances
How selection odds work across rounds
NRI Wealth Checkup
Keep your finances ready either way
This page is educational only and is not legal, immigration, tax, or financial advice. H-1B lottery rules, USCIS policies, and processing timelines change frequently and depend on your specific facts. Always confirm details with official USCIS guidance, your employer or its immigration attorney, and qualified professionals before acting.
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