2nd lottery for H-1B visa applicants

Hundreds of Indian IT professionals in the country have a reason to cheer. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the government is all set to conduct a rare second lottery for the H-1B visa to decide on the successful applicants. The move was triggered when it was realized that the computerized draw of lots for H-1B visas conducted early this year did not give them enough number of Congressional mandated H-1B visas.

This decision will provide another chance to several applicants. This non-immigrant visa allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. However, online filing is not available for H-1B petitions. “Registration selection only indicates that petitioners are eligible to file H-1B cap-subject petitions; it does not indicate that the petition will be approved. Petitioners filing H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those petitions eligible for the advanced degree exemption, must still submit evidence and establish eligibility for petition approval based on existing statutory and regulatory requirements,” the federal body added.