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What is the H-1B visa and lottery?

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows eligible international workers to be employed in certain specialty occupations. To qualify, the applicant must have a job offer from a sponsoring US employer. The applicant must also hold a bachelor’s degree or higher or have equivalent work experience.

The H-1B visa is desirable because it provides up to six years of work authorization and a clear path to citizenship among other benefits for the visa holder and their family members. Due to the popularity of these visas, there is a yearly cap or limit on the number that can be issued, and a lottery is used to select which applicants will receive the visa. There are 85,000 H-1B visas available through the lottery each year. In 2023, only 14% of H-1B registrations were selected in the lottery. The lottery takes place in March of each year, and applicants who receive their visa can begin working on or after October 1st.