Dear Sophie: How do I change my L-1B to an H-1B through the lottery?
You might be eligible to change your status to an H-1B through the lottery if you:
- Have an L-1B visa that will expire in the next 6 months
- Have been employed in the United States for at least 1 year in a “specialty occupation”
If you are eligible and chosen in the lottery, you can change your status to an H-1B. You will need to submit a new visa application, including an H-1B petition, to USCIS.
For more information on H-1B visas, please visit our H-1B visa page.
Dear Sophie: How do I change my L-1B to an H-1B through the lottery?
There are a few different ways to change your L-1B to an H-1B. One way is to go through the lottery. To do this, you will need to:
- Submit a new H-1B petition;
- Include a cover letter requesting that your petition be entered into the lottery; and
- Pay the additional H-1B lottery fee of $10.
If your petition is randomly selected in the lottery, you will be notified and can then begin working in H-1B status. If your petition is not selected, it will be returned to you with your filing fee.
Note: The H-1B lottery is conducted each year for petitions filed in April for an employment start date of October 1. Due to the increasing demand for H-1B visas, not all petitions are selected in the lottery.
As a result, it is important to consider other visa options, such as the H-1B1 visa for citizens of Chile and Singapore or the E-3 visa for citizens of Australia, if you are eligible.
Dear Sophie: How do I change my L-1B to an H-1B through the lottery?
You may be able to change your L-1B to an H-1B through the H-1B visa lottery. The H-1B visa is for foreign nationals who want to work in the United States in a specialty occupation. To be eligible for the H-1B visa, you must have a bachelor’s degree or higher in a specific field, such as science, engineering, or mathematics. The H-1B visa is also for people who have at least three years of experience in their field. If you meet these requirements, you can apply for the H-1B visa through the lottery.
The H-1B lottery is held every year. To apply for the lottery, you must submit an application to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You can find the application on the USCIS website. The application must be submitted by April 1st. You will be notified by USCIS if you have been selected for the lottery. If you are selected, you will be given an H-1B visa. You can then begin working in the United States in your specialty occupation.
Good luck!