F1 to H1B: An Essential Guide for Students

Studying in USA on an F1 visa and looking at transitioning to H1B visa soon? Here is an article describing the H1B lottery trends and acceptance rates for F1 visa holders transitioning to H1B soon. Or are at the verge of finishing their education soon and looking for jobs in the USA and get sponsorship.  

For Indian students seeking higher studies in the US, the H1B visa is typically a significant milestone in the career journey of a long-term career professional. With the limited number of H1B visas available each fiscal year and the high demand, particularly from Indian graduates, the annual H1B lottery has become a much-awaited event. This article discusses the trends observed during the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 H1B lottery, H1B visa lottery results, including acceptance rates and filing schedules for Indian students studying in the USA.

What is H1B Visa in USA?

The H1B visa is an employment-based non-immigrant visa allowing US employers to hire foreign nationals temporarily in speciality occupations requiring theoretical and technical knowledge in specialty occupations. These employees can mainly be those who are enrolled in US universities on an F1 student visa status. Apart from F1 visa holders, they can be qualified from any other university abroad, but equivalent to the US education system.

H1B Visa Eligibility

For H1B visa eligibility, the position offered by a US employer should be a specialty occupation, typically a minimum of a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a specific field. To elaborate in detail, F! Visa to H1B visa is possible when applicants:

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree from a US university or a recognised US institution for higher education.
• Or, hold a US equivalent bachelor’s degree from a foreign higher education institution.
• Also, have the appropriate educational qualifications required for specialized training, and/or progressively advanced work experience equivalent to a US bachelor’s or higher degree in the relevant specialty field, along with demonstrated expertise through increasingly responsible roles directly related to that area of specialization.

Once the H1B eligibility is met, F1 visa holders can begin the process of F1 visa to H1B visa status. 

F1 to H1B Visa Stay Duration

Usually, F1 applicants applying for an H1B visa can stay for 3 years. But, applicants can also extend it for up to 6 years in exceptional circumstances. While transitioning from F1 visa to H1B visa, if applicants’ F1 visa status is about to expire, they can try their luck with H1B cap gap and H1B lottery system. H1B lottery happens year on year and has a cap of 65,000 spots only. 

Applicants on an H1B visa can also apply for a PR in the USA while employed with the same employer or any other US state-designated employer. 

Difference Between H1B Visa and H1B Lottery Visa

To understand the terms better, here is a table showing the difference between H1B visa and H1B lottery visa below: 

Understanding the F1 Visa to H1B Transition Process

Several significant requirements and an official process control the conversion from an F1 student visa to an H1B work visa. The method of obtaining an H-1B visa is quite structured and starts with a U.S. employer eager to hire a foreign professional for a specialty job. Here’s how F1 visa to H1B can be processed for an Indian students:

1. Get a Job Offer on F1 Visa

Getting a job in USA and having a job offer in hand is the initial step to obtaining an H1B visa after studying full-time in the USA. In this case, a foreign worker receives a job offer from a U.S. employer in a specialty occupation. The H1B eligibility criteria to qualify are that the candidate must hold at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in the relevant field.

2. After Meeting H1B Eligibility Employer to File LCA

Before the US-based employer can file the H-1B petition for its F1 visa-holding employee, it must first submit an LCA (Labor Condition Application) to the U.S. Department of Labor. This application outlines the employment conditions, including wages, and the employer must confirm that hiring the foreign worker won’t adversely affect the wages or working conditions of U.S. workers in similar roles. Submit the fee along with the application. The employers have to pay . On the other hand employers will have to pay the following for filing an H1B petition:

3. Filing the H-1B Petition

Once the Labor Condition Application or LCA is approved, the employer in the US can file H-1B petition (Form I-129) only if he/she holds a PR in the US and falls under the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The H1B petition must include information about the job posting (type of role, JD, etc.), about the employer, the candidate’s qualifications that are US-based or equivalent to US level, and supporting documents like degrees, work experience, and licenses.

Submit the fee along with the application. The employees have to pay $205 (MRV Fee for USA). On the other hand, employers will have to pay the following for filing an H1B petition:

4. Selection and Approval of H1B through Lottery 

If the number of H-1B petitions exceeds the annual cap, USCIS will hold an H1B lottery to choose which petitions will be processed. If selected and approved, USCIS will send out an approval notice (Form I-797).

5. Visa Application Filing for H1B Visa

If the employee is currently outside the U.S., such as in India, they will need to apply for an H-1B visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. However, if they are already in the U.S. on a different valid visa, they can apply for a status change to H-1B without leaving the country. 

6. Visa Interview to Get H1B Visa in USA 

The candidate will be called in for an interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, where they’ll be asked about their qualifications, job, and other relevant details. It’s essential to bring all necessary documents, including the approved H-1B petition.

Once the visa is stamped, the employee is ready to travel to the US. While on an H1B visa, Indian applicants can consider applying for Permanent Residence in USA as well. 

FY 2025 H1B Lottery Filing Timelines

Indian students who have taken or intend to take part in future lotteries must be aware of the particular timelines for the FY 2025 H1B lottery. Here is the H1B lottery visa timeline for filing petitions:

• The initial registration period for the FY 2025 H1B cap began on March 6, 2024 and was scheduled to close on March 22, 2024.
• Due to a temporary system issue some users experienced, USCIS extended the initial registration deadline. The new deadline for the initial registration period was noon Eastern Time on March 25, 2024.
• USCIS aimed to inform those whose registrations were selected by March 31, 2024.
• For FY 2025, USCIS conducted a second lottery in July 2024.
• This second lottery selected more beneficiaries from the existing pool of registrations.
• The filing period for H1B cap-subject petitions for selected registrations generally started on April 1, 2024.
• This filing period lasted at least 90 days from when the selection notice was issued.
• Approved H1B petitions for FY 2025 started on October 1, 2024, the beginning of the fiscal year.

FY 2025 H1B Lottery Visa Registration Numbers and Trends

The FY 2025 H1B cap registration period saw a notable shift in the number of registrations submitted. USCIS received 479,953 applications or registrations, of which 470,342 were eligible in 2025. A substantial decrease of 38.6% compared to the 758,994 eligible registrations received in FY 2024 was noted. 

FY 2025 H1B Lottery Acceptance Rates

To provide a broader context, the following table summarises the H1B registration and selection data for recent fiscal years:

To understand the lottery acceptance rates for the H1B visa, here are a couple of points to understand for F1 to H1B visa stamping based on the data above:

• Initial Selection for H1B Lottery: 114,017 beneficiaries (120,603 registrations) were selected for the FY 2025 H1B cap.
• Second Selection for H1B Lottery: 13,607 additional beneficiaries selected, with 14,534 more registrations.
• Estimated Overall Selection Rate for H1B Lottery 2025: 28.87% (127,624 selected beneficiaries / 442,000 unique beneficiaries).
• Master’s Degree Advantage: Individuals holding a U.S. master's degree have a higher probability of selection due to an additional exemption quota of 20,000 for individuals with advanced degrees. This would indicate both a higher selection rate year over year for master’s versus bachelor’s degrees.
• Beneficiary-Based System: Given the H1B beneficiary-based system of regulation, and how the lottery system works, it more likely aligns the selection more closely with each individual’s actual probability of selection.

As the numbers show, FY 2024 had a record number of registrations, likely linked to the record number of registrations, as many were inflated given the registration-based lottery. FY 2025's beneficiary-based rule drastically reduced the total number of registrations to a point closer to the number of unique individuals applying for the visa. The number of selections within the first half of FY 2025 was lower than prior, which USCIS made up for by setting a higher predicted petition filing rate under the new system.

Challenges for Indian Students in the H1B Lottery

Nationals from India are consistently the largest group of H1B applicants every year. The reason being:

• Increased Competition: Due to the overwhelming number of applicants in this category, Indian students studying in the U.S. have difficulty navigating through the H1B lottery.
• Possible Effects of Policy Actions: Changes in U.S. immigration policies and controls may also have implications for Indian applicants.
• Problems for F1 Students on OPT: F1 students who are on Optional Practical Training (OPT) will run into problems in the next year, i.e., if they were not selected for an H1B petition, they may have to leave and return to India or pursue some other visa to stay in the U.S.
• Cap-Gap Extension: The "cap-gap" extension allows for F1 students who applied for H1B petitions that were selected and whose OPT expires prior to October 1st to maintain their status in the U.S. and continue working on OPT authorization until the start of their H1B status.

Upcoming FY 2026 H1B Lottery Timeline for F1 Holders

Moving forward, the FY 2026 H1B cap registration window opened on March 7, 2025, and will remain open until March 24, 2025. 

• The FY 2026 registration fee has also been set at $215 per beneficiary, a whopping increase from the previous $10 fee. USCIS has also ensured that the beneficiary-based selection process will remain for the FY 2026 lottery.
• FY 2026 lottery selections will likely be notified by March 31, 2025.
• Indian students must also remain aware of future policy changes during the current regime that would impact future H1B seasons.

Alternative Visa Options for F1 Students to Get H1B

There are specific other routes and options for Indian F1 students who are not selected in the H1B lottery. 

1. Students enrolled in STEM courses can seek a STEM OPT extension, which allows them to remain in the US longer. 
2. Other non-immigrant visa options, such as the O-1 visa for individuals of extraordinary ability or achievement, the E-2 visa for treaty investors, or the J-1 exchange visitor visa, can be used instead of the F1 visa for H1B.
3. Another option is for those seeking to work with organisations exempted from the H1B cap, like universities or non-profit research institutions, that can be pursued.

This was everything about the F1 visa to H1B visa process, eligibility, lottery trends, alternatives, and transition to PR in the USA. Applicants on F1 visas who are completing their education soon should look for jobs in the USA and aim for employers who will sponsor them to work in the USA legally by offering them an H1B visa. Need more help? Comment down your queries, and we shall get back to you soon.