H-1B Lottery Odds: How Weighted Selection Works

Select your wage level above to see how many times you are entered, and your odds.

Cap-gap extension

Cap-gap only applies if your registration was selected and your employer filed a timely H-1B petition requesting a change of status: it automatically extends your F-1 status and any current OPT or STEM OPT work authorization while that petition is pending. If your registration was not selected at all, cap-gap does not apply, so plan around your actual OPT or STEM OPT expiration date using the options below.

STEM OPT extension

If you have a STEM-designated degree, have not already used a STEM OPT extension for that degree level, and your employer is enrolled in E-Verify, you may be able to extend your work authorization by up to 24 months. That buys time to re-register in a future H-1B cycle or pursue another path.

O-1 visa

The O-1 is for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement in their field. It is not subject to the annual H-1B cap or lottery, but it has its own fairly high evidentiary bar: an employer or agent has to petition on your behalf and document the required criteria.

Day-1 CPT

Some schools offer Curricular Practical Training authorization starting on day one of a new academic program, letting a student work full-time right away. Treat this option with real caution: it has drawn heavy scrutiny from USCIS and immigration enforcement, and a poor choice of school or program can put your immigration status at risk. Research any school offering this thoroughly, and talk to an attorney, before enrolling.

Cap-exempt or concurrent H-1B employers

Universities, nonprofit entities affiliated with a university, and nonprofit or government research organizations can sponsor H-1B status without going through the annual lottery. Some people also hold a cap-exempt H-1B while working concurrently for a separate, cap-subject employer. Whether this fits your situation depends on the specific employer and role.

Consular processing if you are abroad

If you are outside the United States, or willing to be, some employers can pursue H-1B consular processing in a future registration cycle instead of a change of status filed from inside the US. This changes the timing pressure: you are not racing a domestic status expiration, but you do need a plan for the time before a visa is approved.

Re-register next cycle

The H-1B cap lottery runs every year. If you are not selected, you can register again in the next registration cycle. Nothing about this cycle's result carries over or counts against you.