At a glance
USCIS received 95,885 advanced-degree H-1B cap submissions and 94,213 standard H-1B cap submissions during the FY 2019 filing period.
A closer look
USCIS has released the numbers of advanced and standard H-1B cap petitions it received during the FY 2019 H-1B cap filing season. Of the 190,098 H-1B cap petitions filed:
- 95,885 were submitted towards the cap exemption of 20,000 for holders of U.S. advanced degrees, and
- 94,213 were submitted towards the standard quota of 65,000.
As announced yesterday, the agency ran two lotteries on April 11 to select which cases will be processed to completion. The first lottery selected enough cases to meet the 20,000 advanced degree exemption, and the second lottery chose from the remaining 170,098 cases, including those not selected in the advanced-degree lottery, to fill the standard quota of 65,000.
Based on the statistics provided, advanced-degree filings had a 21% chance of selection in the advanced-degree lottery. All remaining cases had a 38% chance of selection in the standard lottery. Overall, the odds for advanced-degree cases were somewhat higher because these filings had a second chance for selection if they were not chosen in the initial lottery.
What’s next
Receipting of cases selected in the lottery is expected to begin in the coming days. Employers will not know how many of their cases were selected in the lottery until USCIS completes receipting, which could take weeks. Cases that were not chosen in the lotteries will be rejected and returned with their filing fees.
Once receipting is completed, contact your Fragomen team for assistance in identifying alternatives for foreign nationals whose H-1B petitions were not selected in the cap lotteries.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
Explore more at Fragomen
Media mentions
Partner Julia Onslow-Cole discusses Middle East-based UHNW clients making short-term moves driven by schooling and timing considerations.
Awards
Partners Chris Spentzaris and Sasko Markovski, Practice Leader Sarah Tan and Counsel Robert Walsh are recognized by Best Lawyers in Australia for their work in immigration law.
Awards
Fragomen is shortlisted across multiple categories in the 2026 EMMA Awards, recognizing innovation and impact in global mobility and immigration services.
Video
Learn how international graduates can stay in France for one year to find work or start a business. Discover eligibility requirements, application steps and transition options for the Job Seeker/New Business Creator permit.
Work authorization
Senior Associate Lara Hannaway outlines the current state of Portugal’s Golden Visa programme, examining how recent policy reforms, proposed changes to nationality rules and ongoing processing delays are reshaping the pathway to long‑term residence and EU citizenship.
Media mentions
In an article published in Mens en Migratie magazine, Senior Associate Tugba Ozyakup explains how authorized representatives support employers with recognized sponsor status by managing complex immigration processes, particularly for international companies navigating Dutch requirements.
Media mentions
Video
Manager Mihaela Dumitru highlights key considerations for business travelers entering Switzerland, emphasizing that compliance is determined by activities—not duration of stay or entry status.
Video
Partner Rick Lamanna, Senior Associate Jake Paul Minster and Senior Manager Sergio Flores discuss Mexico entry requirements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including visa processes, documentation requirements and key considerations for travelers.
Video
Partner Diana Quintas highlights Brazil’s offshore visa requirements, including eligibility, application steps and key compliance considerations for assignments over 90 days.
Media mentions
Senior Counsel Mitch Wexler discusses why EB-5 is becoming a popular option for H-1B and F-1 visa holders in Silicon Valley navigating multiple pathways to permanent residence.
Media mentions
Partner Isha Atassi and Director Nofisatu Mojidi discuss key considerations for investors from Africa and the Middle East in the EB-5 program.
Media mentions
Partner Julia Onslow-Cole discusses Middle East-based UHNW clients making short-term moves driven by schooling and timing considerations.
Awards
Partners Chris Spentzaris and Sasko Markovski, Practice Leader Sarah Tan and Counsel Robert Walsh are recognized by Best Lawyers in Australia for their work in immigration law.
Awards
Fragomen is shortlisted across multiple categories in the 2026 EMMA Awards, recognizing innovation and impact in global mobility and immigration services.
Video
Learn how international graduates can stay in France for one year to find work or start a business. Discover eligibility requirements, application steps and transition options for the Job Seeker/New Business Creator permit.
Work authorization
Senior Associate Lara Hannaway outlines the current state of Portugal’s Golden Visa programme, examining how recent policy reforms, proposed changes to nationality rules and ongoing processing delays are reshaping the pathway to long‑term residence and EU citizenship.
Media mentions
In an article published in Mens en Migratie magazine, Senior Associate Tugba Ozyakup explains how authorized representatives support employers with recognized sponsor status by managing complex immigration processes, particularly for international companies navigating Dutch requirements.
Media mentions
Video
Manager Mihaela Dumitru highlights key considerations for business travelers entering Switzerland, emphasizing that compliance is determined by activities—not duration of stay or entry status.
Video
Partner Rick Lamanna, Senior Associate Jake Paul Minster and Senior Manager Sergio Flores discuss Mexico entry requirements for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including visa processes, documentation requirements and key considerations for travelers.
Video
Partner Diana Quintas highlights Brazil’s offshore visa requirements, including eligibility, application steps and key compliance considerations for assignments over 90 days.
Media mentions
Senior Counsel Mitch Wexler discusses why EB-5 is becoming a popular option for H-1B and F-1 visa holders in Silicon Valley navigating multiple pathways to permanent residence.
Media mentions
Partner Isha Atassi and Director Nofisatu Mojidi discuss key considerations for investors from Africa and the Middle East in the EB-5 program.