H-1B Visa Lottery Gets Last-Minute Overhaul in New Rule (1)

The lottery for H-1B skilled guestworker visas will be getting an overhaul a mere two months before it takes place.

A final rule released Jan. 30 by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services switches the order that the lottery is run to maximize the number of visas awarded to workers with advanced degrees from U.S. colleges and universities.

This year’s lottery, which likely will take place the first week in April, will be run first on all H-1B petitions, followed by a lottery for however many remaining slots for advanced-degree holders. Historically, the USCIS has run the lottery for the advanced-degree ...