Immigration firms said the selection rate in this year’s H-1B lottery has increased.
Bloomberg Law, citing data from immigration firms, reported that selection rates in the first H-1B lottery (fiscal year 2027) held this year under the second Donald Trump administration reached “unprecedented levels.” This was the first lottery based on salary level and also came after the administration imposed a $100,000 fee for H-1B applications. USCIS has not released official data on how many registrations it received and how many were selected in the lottery, but law firms told Bloomberg they have seen a larger success rate this time. The visa program to hire specialized workers from foreign countries relied on a random lottery, as it received applications well in excess of the annual quota of 85,000. But the administration amended the lottery rules to give more deserving candidates more chances to win. Some top law firms cited a 50-60% success rate this year compared to one in three selection chances in previous years.
What does this mean for H-1B applicants?
The Trump administration is cracking down on immigration, job and visa fraud. Many Republicans want the H-1B program to end completely because they do not want American jobs to go to Indians or Chinese. But if H-1B selection rates increase under the Trump administration, is that good news for Americans and H-1B seekers? Immigration firms told Bloomberg the chances of winning increased this year because the pool was smaller this time due to the $100,000 fee. After the fees were imposed, universities and hospitals stopped almost all of their international recruitments because they could not afford the exorbitant fees. Many tech firms have also chosen to hire from abroad, accounting for four out of 10 new H-1B workers in recent years. Technology companies promoting large investments in artificial intelligence have also reduced their foreign recruitment this time. Many companies are still waiting to see if there is a change in the rules or a court order stopping Visa fees. The increase in chances of winning is good news for high-skilled workers because the new system works in favor of higher-paid, experienced workers. For American workers, too, this means entry-level jobs will not go to foreign workers.