The below information is from http://www.happyschoolsblog.com/h1b-visa-2010-what-is-mini-lottery-uscis/

Window to accept H1B Visa petitions for FY2010 started from yesterday. In previous article USCIS might conduct Mini lottery to select H1B Visa 2010, many were not clear on what is Mini Lottery. So, here’s my 2 cents on the topic.

Mini Lottery to Select H1B
Term Mini lottery is something I came across reading immigration forums.

Term ‘Mini lottery’ is not officially used by USCIS. Mini lottery will be conducted by USCIS if H1B Quota is reached after April 7, 2009.

USCIS stated that if more H-1B petitions ( than available 85,000) were received within first 5 business days ( till April 7, 2009), there will be usual random lottery selection for entire 65,000 and same applies to 20,000 (Advanced Degree Cap). Until we hear from USCIS, there is no way to predict the number of applications submitted this year.

If H1B Quota Reached by April 7, 2009
If more than 65,000 H1B Visa petitions were received till April 7, 2009 – There will be random lottery to pick entire 65,000 visas
If more than 20,000 Advanced Degree petitions were received, then there will be lottery to select entire 20,000 petitions.
If H1B Quota not reached by April 7, 2009
For this example lets assume, that not enough H1B Visa petitions were received for FY2010 by April 7, 2009.

USCIS will continue to receive petitions till cap is filled.
For example, if USCIS on April 10, 2009 receives enough number of applications to reach 65,000 and 20,000 cap, then mini lottery will be held. So, lottery will be conducted on H1B petitions received just on April 10, 2009.
How Does Mini Lottery Help?
H1B Visa applications submitted before April 7, 2009 will be be considered for H1B Approval and receipt number will be issued and lottery will be held only for small number of applications received on last day when cap was met. So, far there is no updates from USCIS.

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