USCIS completes FY 2026 H-1B cap initial registration selection process

Global Immigration alert

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has completed the initial registration selection process for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 H-1B cap lottery. This marks a critical step in the annual H-1B cap season for employers and foreign nationals seeking to work in the United States under the H-1B classification.

Background and analysis

The initial registration window ran from 7 March to 24 March 2025. USCIS received a sufficient number of electronic registrations to meet the 65,000 regular cap and 20,000 Master’s cap. Registrants selected in the initial lottery have been notified via their myUSCIS accounts.

Employers with selected beneficiaries may proceed to file H-1B cap-subject petitions between 1 April and 30 June 2025. Each petition must include the selection notice, along with a completed Form I-129 and supporting documentation. Registrations not selected will remain in the system and may be considered in a potential second lottery, depending on USCIS filing volumes.

While USCIS has not yet released detailed statistics on the total number of registrations submitted this year, early reports suggest that the selection rate has increased compared to previous years. This may be suggestive of a decrease in overall registrations, possibly due to recent changes such as the increase in the H-1B registration fee from $10 to $215. Official future figures from USCIS are anticipated to provide more precise insights into this year's H-1B cap lottery statistics.

What this means

If you received a selection, timely filing is critical; late petitions will not be accepted. Those not selected should not file a cap-subject H-1B petition unless chosen in a future round. Individuals with pending cap-exempt H-1B cases (e.g., at universities or nonprofits) are not affected by this process.