It's another year of H1B visas. Let me share my experience and common questions.

March 30th is here already! Tomorrow, all the students applying for H1B visas this year will need to file their documents. What follows is a long and arduous wait of several months. I went through this period last year, and it was quite difficult. I'd like to share some common questions and my experience in the hopes that it will be helpful to everyone.

1. What is the process of drawing lots, and what are the probabilities?

The odds are anyone's guess, since the exact number of applicants is unknown. However, according to unofficial data, last year's number was 170,000, and this year it's estimated to be 210,000. 20,000 graduate student spots are drawn first, and those not selected are added to the remaining 65,000 spots. Of course, I recall that around 5,000 spots are allocated to other institutions, so the actual number of spots will be less than 85,000.

2. When will we know the results? How will we find out?

This is a question many people are concerned about. The lottery will take place around April 10th. Check the USCIS website for details: http://www.uscis.gov/. If you opted for expedited processing (the one that costs over 00), you might know the results earlier than others. They will notify you by email, and after notifying expedited applicants, they will notify you by regular mail (note). However, based on last year's experience, it seems that they don't notify expedited applicants first and then start notifying regular applicants. So, if you haven't heard anything, don't give up hope; you might receive an email the next day. The timeline is roughly: expedited applicants (most) will be notified by early May, and all applicants by early June. I only found out my results in late May (and received the regular mail in June). If your lawyer hasn't received a letter, it's very likely... If you are not selected in the lottery, your materials will be returned to you by regular mail (this is extremely slow, so don't wait for it).

To find out if you've been selected, go directly to http://www.uscis.gov/ and check your case number. Analyze any changes in the number to determine your selection. The method for checking is: http://redbus2us.com/uscis-case-statuses-for-h1b-visa-flow-chart-workflow-screenshots/

Note: The lottery is divided into different data centers, so you need to find out which data center you are in first. You can find out by looking up the beginning of your case number.

3. What is a Case Number? What do I need to do after sending in my application materials?

You don't need to do anything, just wait. It's important to stay calm; ideally, forget about it and do something else, otherwise, watching it every day will be very unsettling. After you send out your materials, you will receive a receipt with your case number, indicating that USCIS has received your materials and assigned you a case number. This number is used to check the status of your case.

4. How to communicate with other people participating in the lottery?

I found this website last year when I was searching: http://redbus2us.com/

This website allows people to report their case numbers and whether they were selected in the H1B lottery. Last year, the results were released in order of case number. Approximately 5000 results are released daily.

5. What if I'm put on a check and need more materials?

If you're selected, everything will be easier. Talk to your lawyer; this situation is quite common, but most of the time you pass, unless the job nature and other conditions are extremely different.

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The above is based on my experience from last year. If there are any problems, please feel free to point them out. You are also welcome to ask questions. I will try my best to share what I know with everyone.

Finally, I wish everyone good luck. Not being selected isn't the end of the world; there are many other ways to stay. Of course, I still maintain my previous point: the US isn't as good as we imagine, and China isn't as bad as we imagine. Returning home isn't a bad choice; for some students, it represents better development. What suits you best is what matters most.