USCIS  has completed the H-1B cap random selection process. On April 10, 2019, USCIS used a computer-generated random selection process, “lottery,” to select enough H-1B petitions to meet the 65,000 congressionally-mandated regular cap and the 20,000 masters cap, under the advanced degree exemption, for fiscal year (FY) 2020. After completing the lottery for the regular cap, USCIS also determined that it had received enough petitions projected as sufficient to meet the master’s cap.

USCIS also announced that it received 201,011 H-1B petitions during this filing period, which began April 1st. This is an increase from FY 2019, where USCIS received 190,098 H-1B petitions during the filing period!

As per the new H-1B regulation, USCIS first conducted the lottery for H-1B cap-subject petitions submitted on behalf of all beneficiaries, including those that may have been eligible for the master’s cap. USCIS then selected a number projected to reach the master’s cap from the remaining eligible petitions.

We should begin to see receipt notices trickle in over the next few weeks. If you receive a receipt notice, this means your H-1B petition was selected in the lottery. If your petition is selected, it will be reviewed by a USCIS Officer. An Officer can send an approval (yay!), or a Request for Evidence. If your petition was not selected, USCIS will reject and return those petitions with filing fees, unless the petition is found to be a duplicate filing.