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Usually yes

Does a US master's degree improve my H-1B lottery odds?

Usually yes. Beyond the 65,000 regular cap, there are an additional 20,000 slots reserved for people who earned a master's degree or higher from a U.S. institution of higher education (the 'advanced degree exemption' or master's cap). Eligible beneficiaries get two chances at selection: first in the master's pool, and if not selected there, in the regular cap pool. The degree must be from a qualifying U.S. school and you must be eligible at the time the petition is filed.

Watch out

Only a master's or higher from a qualifying U.S. institution of higher education counts; foreign or non-qualifying-institution degrees do not get the extra 20,000-slot advantage.

Source: USCIS, H-1B Cap Season (advanced degree exemption)

Informational, not legal advice. Immigration rules change and individual cases differ. Confirm anything that affects your status with your school’s DSO or an immigration attorney before acting.

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More on h-1b & the lottery

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