Not long ago, USCIS released the official data on this year's H-1B electronic registrations, and it sent shockwaves through the U.S. international student community!
The number of applicants participating in the H-1B lottery this year reached a staggering 781,000 person-times, a 61% increase from last year's 480,000, setting another historical high!
On the contrary, only 110,000 of these applications were finally selected, a selection rate of just 14% — the lowest since the H-1B lottery was introduced!
No wonder social media platforms are flooded with lamentations from those who failed; many have been trying for years without success and are already disheartened.
Seeing these numbers, one can't help but sigh that the chance of winning the H-1B lottery now is like buying a lottery ticket!
Rampant Fake "Visa Lottery Services"
However, a closer look at the data reveals the problem: the number of applicants who submitted only one registration was 350,103, while another 96,000 submitted multiple registrations; total about 408,000, meaning on average, each person submitted 4.25 registrations.
This figure immediately drew attention, given the ongoing wave of layoffs in the U.S. tech industry for months and the unprecedented H-1B registration volume.
Could one person really receive job offers from four or five companies? It makes you wonder if we are living on the same planet.
The federal government quickly launched an investigation and found that dozens of small tech companies colluded to submit multiple lottery entries for the same applicant, artificially boosting their chances of being selected.
Moreover, many shell companies specifically provide fake lottery services, leading to many individuals entering multiple times and wasting resources.
U.S. Government Cracks Down on Fraud; New Policies on the Horizon
The U.S. government has now officially begun investigating H-1B lottery fraud and taking punitive actions against companies offering fake H-1B services.
Many people involved in illegal lottery transactions have been banned from entering the U.S. for life! This has been welcomed by international students who never get selected, cheering that it's about time for a cleanup!
Meanwhile, USCIS stated that to completely solve the problem of multiple registrations by the same person, it is working on new H-1B rules to reduce the potential for abuse and fraud in the registration system.
Therefore, in the future, the H-1B lottery could be based on individuals rather than employers, maintaining job flexibility while ensuring a level playing field for everyone.
Those planning to enter the lottery should keep a close eye on policy changes!
How International Students Can Successfully Secure H-1B
However, based on this year's data, even excluding repeat registrations, still over 75% of applications fail to get selected, and the selection rate continues to decline year by year.
But the H-1B visa application is indeed the only way for international students to work long-term in the U.S. So how can international students successfully secure an H-1B?
Choose the Right Major and Job
Among job types approved for H-1B, computer-related positions account for nearly 70%.
According to USCIS FY2021 data, STEM-related jobs made up the majority of H-1B approvals, with computer science being the most sought-after.
Additionally, management and education majors also had some representation, meaning liberal arts graduates still have a chance to work in the U.S. through H-1B.
Choose the Right Sponsor Employer
Apart from choosing the right major, selecting a reliable company to sponsor you is equally important.
USCIS data shows that tech companies lead overwhelmingly in H-1B approval rates. Manufacturing, finance/insurance, information services, and educational services companies follow.
In 2022, over half of the top 10 H-1B sponsor employers were tech companies:
Of course, the wave of layoffs at tech giants continues, so getting a slice of the H-1B pie under current circumstances is truly not easy.
Higher Education Increases Selection Chances
Last year, H-1B still used multiple rounds of lottery. The first round was for both bachelor's and master's/PhD applicants; the second round was a re-draw for unsuccessful master's/PhD applicants.
Under this process, master's/PhD applicants effectively have multiple chances, leading to higher selection odds. For example, last year, among selected H-1B holders, master's and PhD holders accounted for 64%, bachelor's for 30%.
In short, an advanced degree gives you a better shot at H-1B.
Prepare Early and Keep a Positive Attitude
After understanding H-1B, making thorough preparations early on is the key to success.
Choose the right major, define your career direction, accumulate internship experience, network proactively, send out resumes, compare sponsor employers... There are indeed many things to prepare for the H-1B lottery, and students are advised to start as early as possible.
Of course, the H-1B lottery still depends a lot on luck, so we hope everyone can maintain a balanced mindset and treat the outcome with equanimity. Consider all options and adjust timely. Even if you don’t get selected, you can prepare various Plan Bs, such as continuing education or transitioning through CPT, etc.
We wish all students planning to participate in the lottery smooth success! CheersYou（清柚教育） will continue to monitor the latest H-1B policy developments and keep you updated.
