What is the H1B second lottery?

The H1B second lottery is an additional random selection USCIS runs when the first round of selected registrations doesn't produce enough filed petitions to reach the 85,000 annual cap. USCIS pulls more registrations from the same pool that already paid the registration fee — you do not re-register or pay again. If your registration is selected in the second round, your status in the myUSCIS account changes from 'Submitted' to 'Selected.'

When does the H1B second lottery happen?

Second-round selections typically occur in late July or August, a few months after the initial March selection. USCIS announces a second round only if the cap is not met — some years have one second round, some years have a third, and some years have none. Watch your myUSCIS account status and USCIS announcements from July through September.

Will there be an H1B second lottery in 2026?

USCIS runs a second lottery for FY2026 only if the first round of filed petitions falls short of the 85,000 cap. In recent years lower-than-expected filing rates (driven by anti-fraud measures and the beneficiary-centric system reducing duplicate registrations) have made second rounds common. Monitor your myUSCIS status; if a second round is held it is usually announced around late July or August.

How do I know if I was selected in the second lottery?

Log into the myUSCIS account used for your registration and check the case status. A selected registration shows 'Selected'; an unselected one stays 'Submitted' until all rounds conclude, then becomes 'Not Selected.' USCIS does not email individual selection notices — you must check the account. Your attorney or employer who registered you can also see the status.

Do I need to register again for the second lottery?

No. The second lottery draws from the existing pool of registrations submitted during the March registration window. You do not submit a new registration and you do not pay the registration fee again. If you were not registered at all during the original window, you cannot be included in any second round for that fiscal year.

What are my odds in the H1B second lottery?

Odds depend on how many registrations remain unselected and how short of the cap the first round fell. Because the second round draws from a smaller remaining pool, per-registration odds in a second round can actually be higher than the headline first-round rate. Under the beneficiary-centric system, each beneficiary has one entry regardless of how many employers registered them, which has improved fairness and individual odds.

🇺🇸 The most comprehensive H-1B visa job board & resource hub in the US — Browse 500+ guides

H1B LOTTERY

H1B Second Lottery 2026: Dates, Odds & How to Check Status

Not selected in March? You may still get picked. USCIS runs a second — and sometimes third — H1B lottery round when the first batch of petitions doesn't fill the 85,000 cap. Here's how it works, when to watch, and how to check your status.

Quick answer: The second lottery draws more registrations from the same pool — no re-registration, no new fee. It typically happens in late July or August, and only if the cap isn't met. Check your myUSCIS account status ('Submitted' → 'Selected').

How the H1B Second Lottery Works

Each spring, USCIS selects enough registrations in the first round to project hitting the 85,000 cap (65,000 regular + 20,000 US master's). But not every selected registrant files a complete petition — some change plans, some get RFE'd out, some employers withdraw. When filed petitions fall short of the cap, USCIS reopens the existing registration pool and randomly selects more. That is the second lottery.

Crucially, you do nothing to enter the second round. If your employer registered you in the March window and you weren't selected the first time, your registration automatically remains eligible. There is no second registration fee and no new form. Your myUSCIS status simply flips from "Submitted" to "Selected" if your number comes up.

H1B Second Lottery History (FY2024–FY2026)

Fiscal Year	First Round	Second Round	What Happened
FY2024	Mar 2023	Jul 31, 2023	Second round selected ~77,600 additional registrations after low first-round filing rate
FY2025	Mar 2024	Aug 2024	Beneficiary-centric selection began; one second round held
FY2026	Mar 2025	Aug 2025	Conducted when first-round selections didn't fill the 85,000 cap

Source: USCIS H-1B cap season announcements. Second-round timing varies year to year and is announced only when a round is held.

How to Check Your Second-Lottery Status

Log into the myUSCIS account used to submit your registration (yours, your attorney's, or your employer's).
Open the H-1B Registration section and review each beneficiary's status.
"Selected" = you can now file the petition. "Submitted" = still in the pool (a later round is still possible). "Not Selected" = no round selected you this year.
USCIS does not email selection notices — the account status is the source of truth.

Improve Your Odds Next Cycle

If no round selects you this year, plan ahead: cap-exempt employers (universities, nonprofit research orgs) can file H-1B year-round with no lottery, and a higher DOL wage level improves your odds if a wage-weighted selection returns. Explore the lottery-free paths and run your odds below.

Cap-Exempt Employers List →Lottery Odds Calculator →H1B Lottery Alternatives →

Frequently Asked Questions

Authority Sources

Balaji Ingole

SMIEEE · FBCS · FIETE | 16+ years data engineering

Tracks USCIS cap-season data and H-1B registration outcomes. Read full bio →