USCIS Will Conduct Second Random Selection for Regular Cap from Previously Submitted FY 2025 H-1B Cap Registrations
On July 30, 2024, USCIS announced that they would need to select additional registrations for unique beneficiaries to reach the FY 2025 regular cap numerical allocation. USCIS announced that this second selection was completed on August 5, 2024. According to this announcement, USCIS has selected additional registrations for unique beneficiaries from previously submitted electronic registrations using a random selection process and has notified prospective petitioners with selected registrations from this second round of selection that they are eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition for the beneficiary named in the applicable selected registration.
The initial random selection of those registered in the FY2025 H-1B lottery took place in March, including for beneficiaries eligible for the advanced degree exemption. Only those petitioners with selected registrations for FY 2025 are eligible to file H-1B cap-subject petitions during the filing period on their registration selection notice. Previously selected registrants for FY 2025 were required to file their petitions between April 1 and June 30, 2024. Those selected in the second round will be required to file their petitions between August 8, 2024 and November 7, 2024.
USCIS has confirmed that there will not be a second selection for the advanced degree exemption (the master’s cap), as enough master’s cap registrations were already selected, and sufficient petitions were received based on those registrations as projected to meet the FY 2025 masters cap numerical allocation. The second round of selection for the regular cap only includes previously submitted registrations that indicated eligibility for the master’s cap along with those that indicated only eligibility for the regular cap.
Those with selected registrations should receive updates via their USCIS online accounts updated to include a selection notice, which includes details of when and where to file