We just secured approval of an H-1B change of status petition for a civil engineer, one of the beneficiaries selected in this year’s H-1B lottery in March 2026. The petition was filed under regular processing and was approved in approximately three months. Regular processing means the employer did not pay for premium processing to obtain an expedited decision.
The engineer’s change of status from F-1 OPT to H-1B will take effect on October 1, 2026. From that date, they will be able to continue working for the sponsoring employer in H-1B status for another three years.
The H-1B visa allows U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations, meaning roles that normally require at least a bachelor’s degree in a specific field. Because the number of new H-1B visas is capped each year, employers must first register prospective employees in the H-1B lottery. Only selected registrations can proceed to a full petition.
For a graduate working on OPT, that petition can request a change of status rather than consular processing. Once it is approved, the beneficiary moves into H-1B status inside the United States, without traveling abroad for a visa interview before starting H-1B employment.
Each stage has to line up: registering on time, preparing the petition once the selection is confirmed, and documenting that the position qualifies as a specialty occupation.
We are proud to have guided the company through the complex H-1B lottery process and secured approval of the change of status, ensuring that the beneficiary can continue contributing to the company.
If your company is sponsoring an employee on F-1 OPT or preparing for the next H-1B lottery, schedule a consultation with our team to plan your filing strategy.
