This article is intended for employers in Envoy Global who are reviewing their company's employee population to determine who should be considered for enrollment in the H-1B Cap lottery.
💡H-1B Cap cases for FY2027 will be available to open in mid-December 2025. Please contact your Account Management team for assistance.
Your company might consider enrolling foreign nationals in the following visa statuses into the H-1B Cap lottery:
F-1 CPT, OPT, and STEM OPT
- The H-1B Cap lottery has a selection rate of 33% on average. As such, if the company intends to employ an individual in F-1 status on a long term basis, it is best to start enrolling them in the H-1B Cap lottery as early as possible.
L-1A and L-1B
- Individuals in L-1 status cannot extend beyond their final non-immigrant visa expiration date (L-1A visa holders are eligible for up to 7 years of status; L-1Bs up to 5 years). As such, if the company intends to sponsor an L-1 visa holder for a green card, we suggest enrolling them in the Cap lottery to try to avoid a gap in work authorization.
O-1
- Individuals in O-1 status can only extend their status in increments of 1 year after the initial 3 years, unlike the H-1B. Depending on which stage the employee is at in the green card process, the company may consider including O-1 employees in the Cap lottery.
TN, E-3, H-1B1
- These visas are "single intent" visas, meaning foreign nationals might be subject to certain restrictions when seeking an immigrant visa while in the United States. As such, if the company intends to sponsor anyone in the statuses for a green card, we suggest enrolling them in the Cap lottery to try to avoid complications with the permanent residence process.
Dependents (H-4, L-2S, E-2S, E-3S, AOS applicants)
- Ensure continued work authorization in the instance an issue arises with the primary beneficiary's nonimmigrant and/or immigrant visa process.
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