In what can be good news for hundreds of Indian IT professionals seeking the H-1B work visa, the United States’ immigration agency has decided to conduct a rare second lottery for the most sought-after visas to decide on the successful applicants who could not make it in the first random selection.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said on July 30 that a decision was taken after determining that the computerised draw of lots for H-1B visas conducted early this year did not give them enough numbers of the Congressional mandated H-1B visas.

It may be noted that the H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows US-based companies to hire foreign workers. The visa has traditionally witnessed high demand among Indian IT professionals.

The USCIS said a decision was taken after determining that the computerised draws of lots for H-1B visas conducted early this year did not give enough Congressional mandated H-1B visas.

The citizenship and immigration services department said an H-1B cap-subject petition must be filled at the correct service centre and online filing is not available for new visa petitions under the second round of lottery.

"Petitioners filing H-1B petitions must do so by paper and must include a printed copy of the applicable registration selection notice with the FY 2022 H-1B cap-subject petition," the USCIS said.

The US agency also added that petitioners filing H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those petitions eligible for advanced degree exemption, must submit evidence to establish eligibility for petition approval, based on existing statutory and regulatory requirements.

The second H-1B visa lottery round involving petition filing will begin on August 2 after final registrations are selected on July 28. The process will close on November 3.

Individuals with selected registrations will need to have their USCIS accounts updated to include a selection notice, including details of when and where to file, the agency added.

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