My employer backed out; can I use the same lottery selection with another employer?

No. In the H-1B process, a lottery selection is tied to the registration submitted by a specific employer and cannot be transferred or reused by another company.

If the employer who sponsored you withdraws from the process, that selection is no longer valid for a new sponsor. It belongs to the original petition, not to the worker.

For another employer to sponsor your H-1B, they must submit a new registration, compete in the lottery again, and if selected, file their own petition following all deadlines and requirements set by USCIS.

Because the rules and registration periods can change from one cycle to the next, confirm the current conditions on the official source (USCIS) or with a specialist before planning a sponsor change.

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.