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4) H-1B Path (The Lottery You Must Win)
Understand H-1B fundamentals (know the game)
There are two types of H-1B: cap-subject (private companies, limited to 85,000 per year) and cap-exempt (universities, research institutions—no lottery required). Starting in 2026, the lottery is wage-weighted: a Level 4 wage job gets 4 lottery entries while Level 1 gets only 1. Your job must be a 'specialty occupation' requiring a specific bachelor's degree. A generic 'business degree preferred' job won't qualify. The more specific your degree requirement, the stronger your case. Keep your transcripts and degree evaluation ready.
The number of hours you work matters for both your current status and your future OPT.
- Part-Time CPT: 20 hours or less per week. You must still be enrolled in a full course load during the Fall/Spring semesters.
- Full-Time CPT: More than 20 hours per week. This is typically only allowed during summer/winter breaks or if you are a graduate student who has finished all coursework and is only working on a thesis/dissertation.
Free Resource:Full-time vs part-time CPT
Resources
Record your progress
Mark this subsection complete to track your progress.