Lottery likely to decide H-1B visas this year

The lottery system was last followed in 2008; US may reward maximum of 65,000 H-1B visas for the financial year 2014

The much sought H-1B work visas could be decided through lottery this year, industry experts and officials feel, based on initial feedback from companies, as the US starts accepting applications from tomorrow.

If it happens, it would be for the first time since 2008 that the fate of applications for H-1B visas would be decided by a computerised draw of lots.

Even Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said it expected the cap for H-1B visas to be filled in the first five days itself. According to Congressional approved mandate, USCIS can reward a maximum of 65,000 H-1B visas for the financial year 2014 beginning October 1, 2013. In addition, the USCIS can also reward 20,000 H-1B visas for those having masters or higher degree from US academic institutions. This limit on H-1B visas has been in place for more than two decades now. For three years from 2001 to 2003, Congress had increased the cap to 195,000; which was not reached.

"Based on feedback from a number of stakeholders, USCIS anticipates that it may receive more petitions than the H-1B cap between April 1, 2013 and April 5, 2013," USCIS had said in an earlier statement.