H-1B Visa 2026 Lottery Results Announced

Web Desk: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has begun rolling out the results for the FY 2026 H-1B visa cap season. The registration period opened on March 7, 2025, and concluded on March 24, 2025. Each fiscal year, the initial registration period lasts for at least 14 calendar days.

As per USCIS guidelines, prospective petitioners and their legal representatives were to be notified by March 31, 2025, if at least one of their registrations was selected. Once selected in the H-1B visa lottery, beneficiaries can proceed with filing their petitions.

Where to Check Your H-1B Visa Lottery Status

H-1B applicants must log in to their USCIS online accounts to check their registration status. The following status indicators will appear for each beneficiary:

Submitted – The registration is valid and remains eligible for future selection rounds if not already selected.
Selected – The beneficiary is chosen to file an H-1B cap petition.
Not Selected – The beneficiary is not eligible to file an H-1B petition for this fiscal year.
Denied – Duplicate Registration – If multiple registrations were submitted for the same beneficiary, all registrations are invalidated.
Invalidated – Failed Payment – The registration was unsuccessful due to payment issues.
Deleted – The registration has been removed and is no longer valid.
Processing Submission – USCIS is processing the registration, and details may take up to 72 hours to appear.

How USCIS Selects H-1B Beneficiaries

If USCIS received sufficient unique registrations by March 24, 2025, a random selection process was conducted, and results were shared via online accounts. If not enough unique registrations were received, all properly submitted registrations would be selected.

Starting with the FY 2025 cap season, USCIS introduced a beneficiary-centric selection system, which continues in FY 2026. This means selections are based on unique beneficiaries rather than the number of registrations.

H-1B Visa Cap and Exemptions

The H-1B visa program operates under a congressionally mandated annual cap:

65,000 visas under the general “regular cap.”
20,000 additional visas under the “advanced degree exemption” for beneficiaries with a U.S. master’s degree or higher.
6,800 visas reserved for applicants from Chile and Singapore under the H-1B1 program.
Certain institutions, such as higher education institutions and nonprofit research organizations, are exempt from the annual H-1B cap.

For the FY 2025 season, 114,017 beneficiaries were selected, leading to 120,603 initial registrations being approved.

Potential H-1B Policy Changes Under Trump’s Second Term

As Donald Trump’s second presidency prioritizes job security for American workers, the H-1B visa program faces increased scrutiny. A report from the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) warns that proposed minimum wage increases for H-1B workers could make it more challenging for U.S. companies to attract foreign engineers and scientists. The proposal to introduce a “median local wage” may deter skilled professionals and international students from seeking employment in the U.S.

Upcoming Changes in Foreign Labor Certification Records

The Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (OFLC) has announced that, starting March 20, 2025, records older than five years for H-1B, H-1B1, H-2A, H-2B, E-3 visas, and PERM applications will be deleted from the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system.

What is the H-1B Visa Program?

The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in specialized occupations that require highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher. These occupations include:

Technology & Engineering (software developers, engineers, data scientists)
Healthcare & Medicine (physicians, researchers, pharmacists)
Education & Law (professors, legal experts)
Finance & Business (accountants, analysts)
Architecture & Physical Sciences

The H-1B visa remains one of the most sought-after U.S. work visas, but evolving regulations could impact its future availability.

Final Thoughts

As USCIS finalizes the FY 2026 H-1B cap season, selected applicants should prepare their H-1B cap-subject petitions as soon as possible. Given the changing landscape of U.S. immigration policies, it’s essential to stay informed and ensure compliance with all requirements.

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