H1B lottery results by year
USCIS publishes the number of registrations and selections for every year since electronic registration began in FY2021.[1] The selection rate below is selected registrations divided by eligible registrations.
| Cap year | Total registrations | Eligible | Selected | Selection rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2021 | 274,237 | 269,424 | 124,415 | 46.2% |
| FY2022 | 308,613 | 301,447 | 131,924 | 43.8% |
| FY2023 | 483,927 | 474,421 | 127,600 | 26.9% |
| FY2024 | 780,884 | 758,994 | 188,400 | 24.8% |
| FY2025 | 479,953 | 470,342 | 135,137 | 28.7% |
| FY2026 | 358,737 | 343,981 | 120,141 | 34.9% |
Eligible registrations exclude duplicates, registrations deleted by the employer, invalid passport data and failed payments.[1] The FY2024 spike came from workers registered by several employers at once; USCIS moved to counting unique beneficiaries from FY2025, and registrations per beneficiary fell to 1.01 in FY2026.[1] USCIS had not published FY2027 totals on its registration page as of November 13, 2026.
FY2027: the wage-weighted H1B lottery
A DHS final rule effective February 27, 2026 replaced the purely random draw for the FY2027 season. Each unique beneficiary is entered once at OEWS wage Level I, twice at Level II, three times at Level III and four times at Level IV, based on the highest level the offered wage equals or exceeds for the job’s occupation and area.[3][2]
| Offered wage level | Entries in pool | DHS estimated odds |
|---|---|---|
| Level I | 1 | 15.29% |
| Level II | 2 | 30.58% |
| Level III | 3 | 45.87% |
| Level IV | 4 | 61.16% |
| Random draw (old system) | 1 | 29.59% |
The odds are DHS’s estimates in the rule, not results.[3] If a job has several locations, the registration uses the lowest wage level among them, and a wage below Level I is registered as Level I.[2] Proclamation 11069 reports that the two highest wage levels accounted for about 46.3% of FY2027 selections and the lowest level for 17.8%.[6]
How the H1B cap works
The H1B cap is 65,000 visas a year, with up to 6,800 reserved for Chile (1,400) and Singapore (5,400) under H-1B1, plus 20,000 for holders of a U.S. master’s or higher degree.[4][2] Registrations eligible for the master’s exemption are first included in the regular draw and, if not selected there, get a second chance in the advanced-degree draw. The FY2027 cap was reached on July 17, 2026.[5]
- Cap-exempt employers (universities, affiliated nonprofits, nonprofit and government research organizations) can file at any time.
- Workers already counted against the cap can change employers or extend without a new lottery.
- The wage level that drives the lottery is explained on the H1B salary page; fees on the H1B fee page; the full process in the H1 B visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
What are the odds of winning the H1B lottery?
Under the weighted system that started with FY2027, DHS estimated about 15% at wage Level I, 31% at Level II, 46% at Level III and 61% at Level IV. In the last random lottery (FY2026), 34.9% of eligible registrations were selected.
When is the H1B lottery?
Registration usually runs for about two weeks in March. For FY2027 it opened March 4, 2026 and selections were completed March 31, 2026; petitions could be filed from April 1.
What is the H1B cap?
65,000 new cap-subject H-1B visas a year, including up to 6,800 for H-1B1, plus 20,000 for workers with a U.S. master’s or higher degree.
Does a higher salary improve H1B lottery odds?
Yes, since FY2027. The offered wage determines the wage level, and each level adds one more entry to the selection pool, up to four entries at Level IV.
Sources
- H-1B Electronic Registration Process (registration statistics)
- H-1B Cap Season
- Weighted Selection Process for Registrants and Petitioners Seeking To File Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions, final rule, 90 FR 60864
- 8 U.S.C. 1184 (INA 214): admission of nonimmigrants (H-1B cap, ACWIA and fraud fees)
- USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2027 H-1B Cap
- Proclamation 11069, Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers (extension), 91 FR 60497