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.