Can multiple employers register me in the same H-1B lottery?

As of FY2025, no. USCIS implemented a rule limiting registrations to one per unique beneficiary identified by passport number. Multiple employers submitting for the same beneficiary will result in all registrations being invalidated. Each person gets one registration per lottery cycle regardless of how many employers want to sponsor them.

What is the H-1B registration fee?

The H-1B electronic pre-registration fee is $215 per registration, increased from $10 effective FY2025. This fee is paid by the employer at registration. The $215 is separate from and in addition to all USCIS petition filing fees paid after selection.

If I was not selected, can I try again this year?

No. The H-1B lottery runs once per fiscal year. If not selected in March/April, you must wait until the following year's registration window. The only exceptions are cap-exempt employers—universities, nonprofits affiliated with research, and government entities—which can file H-1B petitions at any time without the lottery.

Does my employer need a specific job offer before registering?

The employer must attest they have a bona fide job offer and intend to file if selected. Registrations submitted in bad faith violate USCIS regulations. However, job details can evolve between registration and full petition filing as long as the fundamental employer-employee relationship is legitimate.

What if my employer is acquired after I am selected but before filing?

If the employer is acquired in a business succession such as a merger or acquisition, the successor employer may be able to file the petition. If the company folds entirely before the petition is filed, your selection is lost. This is one reason why checking employer financial health matters when evaluating H-1B sponsorship from startups.

Is there any way to improve my odds beyond having a U.S. master's degree?

Under the current one-registration-per-beneficiary rule, no. The only structural advantages are: having a U.S. master's degree for the second lottery pool, and being sponsored by a cap-exempt employer where no lottery is required. Your odds are what they are: roughly 1-in-6 to 1-in-9 depending on the year.

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H-1B Lottery

H-1B Lottery Registration: The Electronic Pre-Registration Process Explained

Since FY2020, USCIS runs an electronic pre-registration before the full H-1B lottery. Understanding exactly how registration works determines your employer's strategy—and your real odds.

By Sumit PatelUpdated May 202611 min read

How the Electronic Pre-Registration System Works

Prior to FY2020, employers filed complete H-1B petitions before the lottery. USCIS then held a lottery and returned unfiled petitions. The current system reverses the process: employers first register electronically and pay $215. Only selected registrations proceed to full petition filing.

Registration window opens in early March each year, typically March 1-20
Employers create a myUSCIS account and submit name, date of birth, passport number, and education level
USCIS runs the lottery after the window closes; results available in late March via myUSCIS
Selected employers then have 90 days to file the complete I-129 petition

The Two Lottery Pools: Regular Cap and Master's Cap

USCIS runs two sequential lotteries. The first selects from all registrations for the 65,000 regular H-1B cap. The second selects from remaining unselected registrations of beneficiaries with U.S. master's degrees for the additional 20,000 master's cap exemption.

To enter the master's cap lottery, your degree must be from a U.S. institution—foreign master's degrees do not qualify
U.S. master's degree holders effectively get two chances: one in each lottery pool
The practical advantage is modest—selection rates across both lotteries have converged as master's registrations increased
PhD holders from U.S. institutions also qualify for the master's cap pool

Selection Rates: The Real Numbers

USCIS does not publish official selection rates as a single clean percentage. The rate is determined by total registrations versus the 85,000 annual cap.

FY2024: approximately 758,000 registrations for 85,000 slots, roughly 11% selection rate
FY2025: approximately 470,342 registrations, selection rate improved to roughly 18%
New rule effective FY2025: one registration per beneficiary regardless of how many employers submit
The multi-employer stacking strategy that previously inflated registrations is now prohibited

What Happens After Selection

If your registration is selected, USCIS notifies your employer through the myUSCIS account. Selection is permission to file—not approval. Your employer has 90 days from the selection notice to file the full I-129 petition.

Selection notice shows the filing window start and end dates
Employer must file a complete petition package: I-129, LCA, support documentation, all fees
Premium processing can be added at the petition stage for 15-business-day adjudication
If the petition is denied, the registration is considered used—you must re-register next year

Frequently Asked Questions

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