What is a “lottery selection notice”?

The “lottery selection notice” is the notification sent by USCIS informing an applicant that their H-1B registration was selected in the lottery. Because demand for the H-1B typically exceeds the number of available slots each cycle, the U.S. government conducts a random selection to determine which registrations may proceed to the petition stage.

Receiving this notice means the registration was drawn and is authorized to move forward. It is not visa approval: it is the authorization to submit the full petition and go through the subsequent review steps.

• Confirms that the registration was selected in the H-1B lottery.
• Enables the submission of the petition and continuation of the process.
• Does not, on its own, guarantee visa approval.

After selection, the applicant must still meet deadlines and requirements set by the agency, and each case is evaluated individually. It is worth following the official USCIS guidance and, if needed, seeking expert support to navigate each step with confidence.

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.