The fluorescent lights flicker in a small apartment. Papers are spread across the table—résumés, degree certificates, and job offer letters. A laptop screen glows with one open tab: USCIS H-1B Registration Portal. The clock ticks. The pressure builds.
You’re not Walter White cooking in an RV, but right now, your future feels just as uncertain. You’ve played by the rules—got the degree, secured the job offer, and now it all comes down to this: the H-1B quota. Will you get selected, or will your dreams go up in smoke?
This year, the registration fee has skyrocketed, and the selection process has changed—again. If you want in, you need to stay ahead of the game. No half-measures. Let’s break it down.
H-1B Cap Season for Fiscal Year 2026
A dimly lit apartment. A half-empty coffee cup. Your laptop screen flickers with the USCIS registration portal, counting down to March 7, 2025. You refresh the page—nothing yet. You know the stakes. You’ve got the job offer, the qualifications, and the dream. But dreams don’t get you a visa—the H-1B quota does.
This isn’t just paperwork. This is your shot. And this year, the game has changed.
For years, the registration fee was $10, barely enough for a morning latte. Now? It’s $215 per registration. That’s a 2,050% increase—not exactly pocket change. USCIS has also introduced a new lottery system, meaning companies can’t game the system with multiple registrations. If your name isn’t drawn, it’s game over—at least for this year.
The clock is ticking. Are you ready?
H-1B Registration Timeline: Mark Your Calendar
- March 7, 2025, Noon ET – Registration opens
- March 24, 2025, Noon ET – Registration closes
- March 31, 2025 – USCIS notifies selected applicants
- April 1, 2025 – Petitions for selected registrants can be filed
Miss one of these dates, and you’re out before the game even starts.
- New Rules, New Challenges
On Jan. 30, 2024, USCIS introduced major changes to prevent fraud and level the playing field for applicants. The biggest shift? The beneficiary-centric selection process.
What does that mean for you?
- Registrations are now tied to a unique beneficiary, not the number of times an employer submits an application.
- Each applicant must provide a valid passport or travel document—the one they plan to use for U.S. entry.
- Employers can no longer submit multiple registrations for the same worker, preventing unfair advantages.
If your name is drawn, only then can your employer file a full H-1B petition. If not, there’s no second chance—at least until next year. There can be a second-round lottery if USCIS doesn’t receive enough petitions from selected registrants in the first round.
Also Read: H-1B Visa Applications: Record Numbers and Impact on U.S. Economy
H-1B Cap Registration Process
The H-1B cap season is an annual rollercoaster for thousands of professionals trying to secure their place in the U.S. job market. If you’re an employer or a foreign worker eyeing an H-1B visa for FY 2026, here’s what you must know to stay ahead of the game.
Who’s Even Eligible for This H-1B Registration Process?
Before you rush to register, make sure you check these boxes:
- You have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a specialized occupation (engineering, medicine, law, accounting, architecture).
- You’re being sponsored by a U.S. employer for a role that requires your level of expertise.
- You haven’t already registered under the same employer. The same employer cannot submit more than one registration for the same beneficiary. However, different employers may each submit one registration for the same individual, as long as they have bona fide job offers.
Sounds like you? Great! Now, let’s talk about registration.
How to Register for the FY 2026 H-1B Lottery
If you or your employer want to join the H-1B cap race, the process looks like this:
Step 1: Create a USCIS Online Account (Starting March 7, 2025, Noon ET)
This isn’t your usual “sign up and forget” deal. Your employer needs to create a USCIS organizational account, even if they’re working with an attorney. Without this, no dice!
Step 2: Pay the Registration Fee ($215 per Beneficiary)
You heard that right—USCIS increased the H-1B registration fee to $215 per applicant. And no, you don’t get a refund if things don’t go your way.
Step 3: Submit Your Registration (Between March 7 – March 24, 2025, Noon ET)
This is your window to register. USCIS won’t accept late submissions, so mark your calendars and set your alarms!
What Kind of USCIS Account Do You Need?
Let’s clear up the confusion:
- Applicant/Petitioner Account: This is NOT for H-1B registrations. Don’t use it.
- Attorney/Representative Account: If your employer has legal counsel handling the registration, they’ll use this.
- Organizational Account: This is the one your employer must create to submit your registration properly.
Starting April 1, 2025. If you’re not selected, you’re out of luck—at least for this year.
Common H-1B Registration Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them!)
- Submitting Multiple Entries for the Same Applicant.
Solution: Only one registration per applicant per employer. Use USCIS’s duplicate checker tool to be extra sure.
- Creating the Wrong USCIS Account.
Solution: If you’re an employer, make sure to create an organizational account, NOT an applicant account.
Note: The daily credit card limit for online payments has jumped from $24,999.99 to $99,999.99. If your employer is still mailing the petition, the daily limit remains $24,999.99 per card.
H-1B registrations are high-stakes, and mistakes can cost you your only shot for the year. Don’t risk it—Contact the Law Offices of Sweta Khandelwal to get expert legal guidance and a flawless application.
H-1B Visa Cap
The H-1B registration window is short, the process is strict, and mistakes can get your application tossed out. Here’s how to do it right.
- 65,000 visas for candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree.
- 20,000 additional spots for those with a U.S. master’s degree or higher.
- Cap-exempt: Universities, affiliated nonprofits, and research organizations can file year-round.
If registrations exceed the limit (which they do), USCIS runs a random lottery to decide who moves forward.
What Happens Next in the Lottery Process?
USCIS will select registrations by March 31, 2025. After submitting your H-1B registration, you can check your status through your USCIS online account. Here’s what each status means:
Possible Registration Statuses
- Submitted – Your registration is in the system and eligible for selection. If you aren’t picked in the first round, your status stays “Submitted” in case of a second lottery.
- Selected – You’ve been chosen in the lottery! Your employer can now file an H-1B petition.
- Not Selected – You weren’t chosen and cannot file an H-1B cap petition this year.
- Denied – Duplicate Registration – USCIS detected multiple registrations for the same applicant from the same employer. All entries are invalidated.
- Invalidated – Failed Payment – The registration was submitted, but the payment didn’t go through. It’s no longer valid.
- Deleted – Your employer or attorney removed the registration, and it won’t be considered.
- Processing Submission – USCIS is still processing your entry. This may take up to 72 hours.
If You’re Selected, What’s Next?
- Your employer must file the full H-1B petition before the deadline.
- If your registration isn’t selected, your status remains “Submitted” until USCIS confirms that the cap is full.
Also Read: Thoughts on the H-1B Visa Lottery System
Beneficiary-Centric Selection Process
Before the implementation of the beneficiary-centric system, multiple registrations by different employers for the same beneficiary increased the chances of selection unfairly. This created an imbalance in the process, favoring those who could secure multiple employer submissions.
Key Features of the Beneficiary-Centric Selection Process
- Unique Beneficiary Identification:
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- Each beneficiary is identified through their valid passport or travel document information.
- The document must be unexpired and match the one used for U.S. entry (if applicable).
- Only one passport or travel document can be used per beneficiary.
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- Registration and Selection Criteria:
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- Employers must provide accurate beneficiary details, including passport information.
- If a beneficiary receives multiple registrations, they are still only counted once in the lottery.
- Selections are made based on individual beneficiaries rather than employer submissions.
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- Ensuring Document Validity:
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- If a passport or travel document expires between registration and petition filing, the employer must submit documentation for both the old and new passports on Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker.
Impacts Observed in FY 2025:
- Decrease in Multiple Registrations: The number of beneficiaries with multiple registrations plummeted from 408,891 in FY 2024 to just 47,314 in FY 2025, indicating a significant reduction in attempts to exploit the system.
- Stable Employer Participation: The number of employers sponsoring H-1B candidates remained steady, with approximately 52,700 employers participating in both FY 2024 and FY 2025.
- Selection Efficiency: The selection efficiency of the H-1B lottery has changed significantly under the new beneficiary-centric process. In previous years, USCIS selected far more registrations than the 85,000 cap to account for cases where petitions might not be filed or could face denial, rejection, withdrawal, or revocation. For instance, in FY 2024, 188,400 registrations were selected to meet the quota—more than double the required number.
However, in FY 2025, the beneficiary-based approach aimed to curb multiple registrations, resulting in only 135,137 selections, much closer to the cap. This suggests that USCIS is now fine-tuning its selection process to minimize waste and increase efficiency, reducing the need for excessive over-selection.
With over 15 years of experience in immigration law, Sweta Khandelwal can help you understand your options and improve your chances of success.
Preparing for H-1B Filing Season: Employer Checklist
As the H-1B filing season approaches, employers must take strategic steps to ensure compliance and maximize their chances of securing visas for their candidates. Here’s a quick checklist to guide you through the process:
Employer Checklist
- Identify Eligible Candidates – Determine which employees qualify for H-1B sponsorship based on their education, skills, and job roles.
- Draft Job Descriptions – Clearly define job responsibilities to align with H-1B specialty occupation requirements.
- Determine Prevailing Wage Requirements – Use the Department of Labor’s wage database to ensure salaries meet regulatory standards.
Also Read: Schengen Visa Application with H-1B US Visa
Conclusion
The FY 2026 H-1B lottery isn’t just another cycle—it’s a test of adaptability. Higher fees, stricter compliance, and a beneficiary-centric selection process mean that both employers and applicants need to be more strategic than ever. The days of relying on mass registrations or pure luck are gone.
Employers must fine-tune their filings, ensuring every petition is backed by a genuine job offer and meets the prevailing wage requirements. For applicants, securing an H-1B now demands more than just eligibility—it requires careful planning and legal precision.
If you’re serious about navigating these shifting policies, The Law Offices of Sweta Khandelwal can guide you. With a deep understanding of the new rules, Sweta Khandelwal ensures both employers and candidates stay compliant while maximizing their chances. The stakes are high, but the right legal partner can make all the difference. Contact the Law Offices of Sweta Khandelwal today to prepare for what’s ahead.
Disclaimer
Please note that the prices listed for visa services are estimates and may vary in real-time. We recommend consulting the official government websites or other authoritative resources for the most up-to-date pricing information. These estimates do not constitute a guarantee of costs, and fees may change without notice.
