Does the H-1B count toward the green card diversity quota?

No. The H-1B and the so-called diversity lottery (Diversity Visa) are two independent pathways, and holding a work visa does not affect your standing in the green card lottery. The two are completely unrelated.

The H-1B is a temporary work visa with its own rules and limits, tied to employer sponsorship. The diversity lottery, on the other hand, follows an entirely different logic: its goal is to diversify the origin of immigrants, and eligibility is based primarily on the applicant’s country of birth, not their current visa status.

• Being on the H-1B does not grant points, priority, or a guaranteed spot in the lottery.
• Diversity Visa registration follows the program’s own criteria.
• The two processes can coexist, but they do not combine or replace each other.

Since the rules and the list of eligible countries change with each edition of the program, it is worth checking the updated criteria at the official source (USCIS and the Department of State) before counting on this pathway.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.