Can I change employers on H-1B — do I go through the lottery again?

Good news: no new lottery. Once you have been counted against the H-1B cap, a new employer can file a transfer (change of employer) petition at any time. Under portability rules, you can generally start the new job once USCIS receives the properly filed petition — though many people wait for approval to be safe. Keep your status clean and your pay stubs organised. The current process and timing rules are on USCIS.gov.