H-1B Visa Cap Reached for Fiscal Year 2025

The Race Is Over, or Is It? Hundreds of thousands of applications, a strict selection process, and a 29% chance of success. If you made it, congratulations! If not, you’re not alone.

This year, USCIS received 479,953 registrations, with 470,342 deemed eligible. Unlike previous years, where multiple lottery rounds were needed, the second round was enough to reach the annual cap. Why? A new beneficiary-centric system ensured fairer chances by preventing multiple entries for the same person from gaming the system.

With these changes, the lottery was more transparent but also more competitive. If you weren’t selected, it’s time to start looking at alternatives. This blog breaks down the FY 2025 H-1B visa cap, explaining the lottery results, key changes, and what to do next.

 

 

Overview of FY 2025 H-1B Visa Cap Reached

The fiscal year 2025 H-1B visa lottery is officially closed, and USCIS has selected enough petitions to meet the annual cap. The demand for these work visas remains high, but this year’s numbers show an interesting shift from previous years. The H-1B program operates under a strict numerical limit:

• 65,000 visas are available under the regular cap for foreign workers in specialty occupations.
• 20,000 additional visas are reserved for individuals holding a U.S. master’s degree or higher (master’s cap).

For FY 2025, USCIS initially selected 114,017 beneficiaries, leading to 120,603 registrations being chosen. However, this number did not fully meet the H-1B cap. To fill the remaining spots, USCIS conducted an additional selection from the existing pool of registrations, adding 13,607 more beneficiaries and bringing the total selected registrations to 14,534 in this round.

On December 2, 2024, USCIS announced that it had reached the congressionally mandated limits for both the regular and master’s quotas. Compared to FY 2024, the total number of H-1B registrations saw a sharp decline. Here’s how the numbers stack up:

• Total registrations: 470,342 for FY 2025 vs. 758,994 for FY 2024 – a 38.6% drop.
• Unique beneficiaries: 442,000 for FY 2025 vs. 446,000 for FY 2024 – relatively stable.
• Unique employers: 52,700 for FY 2025 vs. 52,000 for FY 2024 – also similar.
• Average registrations per beneficiary: 1.06 in FY 2025, compared to 1.70 in FY 2024.

These numbers highlight a significant decrease in multiple registrations per beneficiary, likely due to new integrity measures aimed at preventing abuse.

USCIS is making efforts to strengthen the integrity of the H-1B selection process. Each employer must certify that their registrations reflect legitimate job offers and that they haven’t worked with other entities to increase a beneficiary’s chances unfairly. These steps are meant to curb fraudulent or duplicate submissions.

With these changes in place, the selection process aims to be fairer, more transparent, and less susceptible to manipulation.

If your registration wasn’t chosen, you still have options. Some petitions are cap-exempt, and alternative visas may fit your situation. Contact the Law Offices of Sweta Khandelwal to explore what’s next for your immigration journey.

Key Dates & Deadlines for FY 2025 H-1B Cap

The FY 2025 H-1B lottery followed a structured timeline from registration to petition filing. Here’s a breakdown of the critical dates:

• March 6 – March 22, 2024:  H-1B Registration Period
  USCIS opened the online registration portal for employers to submit electronic registrations for beneficiaries.
• April 2024: Lottery Selection & Notification
  USCIS conducted the initial random selection and notified petitioners of selected beneficiaries.
• June – July 2024: Filing Window for Selected Beneficiaries
  Employers had a limited window to file full H-1B petitions for candidates selected in the lottery.
• October 1, 2024: Start Date for Approved H-1B Employees
  Approved H-1B visa holders could begin working in the U.S. under their new status.

Also Read: H-1B Visa Quota: Timeline and Requirements Explained

H-1B Registration Process for FY 2025- 2026

Employers must carefully follow the USCIS guidelines to ensure compliance and avoid registration errors in the H-1B registration process. Below is a detailed breakdown of how to secure an H-1B quota in 2026 for each step.

Step 1: Create a USCIS Online Account

To participate in the H-1B visa, employers must create an organizational account on the USCIS portal and submit registrations within the designated timeframe. The type of account needed depends on the applicant’s role in the process.

Types of USCIS Online Accounts

1. Applicant/Petitioner Account:
   • Not used for H-1B registrations.
   • Used by individuals for filing other types of applications.
2. Attorney/Representative Account:
   • Required for lawyers or legal representatives submitting registrations on behalf of employers.
   • Allows attorneys to manage multiple employer accounts.
3. Organizational Account (formerly Registrant Account):
   • Mandatory for employers filing H-1B registrations.
   • Allows multiple team members to collaborate on registration submissions.
   • Employers can invite legal representatives to their accounts for filing and tracking registrations.

Note: The new USCIS Organizational Accounts launched on February 28, 2024. This account type is now compulsory for FY 2026 registrations.

Step 2: Register During the Initial Period

• Log into the USCIS Account (Organizational or Attorney).
• Complete the Online Registration Form:
  • Employer details (FEIN, business address, contact info).
  • Beneficiary information (name, passport number, DOB, country of birth).
  • Job details (job title, wage, location).
• Pay the Registration Fee ($10 per Beneficiary).
• Submit the Registration before the deadline.
• Wait for the Lottery Selection Results.

Note: Each employer can only submit one registration per beneficiary. If multiple companies submit for the same candidate, they are not considered duplicates and will remain valid.

Step 3: USCIS Conducts the Lottery

Once the registration window closes, USCIS determines if the number of applications exceeds the annual cap. If it does, a random selection process (lottery) is conducted.

Lottery Results Notification:

• • Selected candidates will see “Selected” next to their case.
  • Non-selected cases will show “Not Selected” after the fiscal year ends.
  • “Denied” status means multiple registrations for the same beneficiary have been registered, which results in immediate disqualification.
  • A failed payment will show an “Invalidated” status.

• “Deleted” status will be visible if the registrant themselves have removed the submission before the initiation of the selection process. 

• If the system is still updating its status, you may have noticed “Processing Submission.” This will take a minimum of 72 hours to display the right case status.

Step 4: Filing H-1B Petitions for Selected Beneficiaries

Employers whose beneficiaries are selected in the lottery can file an official H-1B petition (Form I-129).

Required Documents for Filing:

Labor Condition Application (LCA):

• Approved by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).
• Ensures employer will pay the required wage and maintain working conditions.

H-1B Petition (Form I-129):

• Employer’s details.
• Job title, wage, and job description.
• Educational and professional qualifications of the beneficiary.

Supporting Documents:

• Copy of the beneficiary’s passport.
• Proof of educational qualifications (degree, transcripts).
• Employer’s financial documents (tax returns, company profile).
• Client letters or project details (for third-party work sites).

Filing Fees:

• • Standard H-1B filing fee: $460
  • ACWIA fee (for companies with 25+ employees): $750–$1,500
  • Fraud prevention fee: $500

• Asylum program fee: $300-$600 (depending on company size)

• Public law 114-113 fee: $4,000 (for employers with 50 or more employees, where over 50% are on H-1B or L-1 visas)
• Optional Premium Processing fee: $2,805 (for 15-day expedited processing).

Additionally, fees are increasing:

• H-1B registration fee for FY 2026 has risen to $215 per beneficiary.
• The daily credit card transaction limit for online H-1B payments has increased to $99,999.99 per card per day, up from $24,999.99 in response to stakeholder concerns.

Step 5: Start Date for Approved Petitions

Once the H-1B petition is approved, the visa beneficiary can begin working in the U.S. starting October 1, 2025. If the beneficiary is outside the U.S., they must apply for an H-1B visa at a U.S. consulate before traveling.

What Happens After Approval?

• Approval Notice (Form I-797): The employer and beneficiary receive the approval notice.
• Consular Processing (If Required): Beneficiaries outside the U.S. must schedule a visa stamping interview at a U.S. consulate.
• Change of Status (If Already in the U.S.): If the beneficiary is already in the U.S. on another visa type (e.g., F-1, L-1), they can start working without leaving the country.

Don’t miss the H-1B registration window! Create your USCIS Organizational Account and get ready to submit your petitions on time. Contact an immigration attorney, Sweta Khandelwal, to navigate the process smoothly.

Non-selection and Cap-Exempt H-1B Petitions: Everything You Need to Know

If a candidate is not selected under the H-1B quota 2025, USCIS will issue a non-selection notice, which should be retained for potential future filings. It serves as official confirmation that your petition was not selected. It is important to note that you may need this document for future filings or other immigration processes.

Cap-Exempt H-1B Petitions: Who Can Apply?

Even if you were not selected in the lottery, some H-1B petitions are still accepted year-round. These are known as cap-exempt petitions.

• Current H-1B Workers – If you were already counted under the H-1B cap and need an extension, transfer, or amendment.
• Cap-Exempt Employers – Some employers are exempt from the H-1B cap, including:
  • Universities & Higher Education Institutions
  • Nonprofit Research Organizations
  • Government Research Organizations
  • J-1 Physicians (Conrad 30 Waiver Program)

Employers that qualify for exemptions from the H-1B quota 2025, such as nonprofit research institutions and universities, can continue submitting petitions without lottery restrictions.

• Special H-1B Petitions (Non-Premium Processing)

Some H-1B petitions must be filed via standard processing and are not eligible for premium processing. The following H-1B petitions fall under this category:

• H-1B Guam Petitions – For employers located in Guam or where the beneficiary will perform services in Guam.
• Conrad/IGA Waiver Petitions – For J-1 physicians receiving waivers under INA Section 214(l).
• H-1B2 Petitions – For individuals coming to the U.S. for exceptional work in cooperative research and development projects under the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

These petitions have different eligibility criteria and special filing procedures. Make sure you check USCIS guidelines before filing.

How to File an H-1B Cap-Exempt Petition?

If you are filing an H-1B cap-exempt petition, you need to follow specific filing instructions depending on your situation.

• H-1B and H-1B3 Regular Cap Petitions (65,000 cap)
• H-1B Advanced Degree Exemption Petitions (Master’s Cap – 20,000)

If you are filing Form I-129 (H-1B Petition) with Form I-907 (Premium Processing Request), use the designated premium processing service location instead of the standard filing location.

Also Read: Current H-1B Visa Stamping: Steps and Process in India

What to Expect for FY 2026 – Start Preparing Now

FY 2026 H-1B Registration Timeline & Process

Key Dates:

• Registration Opens: March 7, 2025 (Noon Eastern)
• Registration Closes: March 24, 2025 (Noon Eastern)
• Organizational Accounts Launched (Feb 28, 2024):
  • Enables multiple team members and legal representatives to collaborate on H-1B registrations and petitions.
  • Required for submitting FY 2026 H-1B registrations.

For guidance on creating organizational accounts, refer to the USCIS Organizational Accounts FAQ or watch USCIS Tech Talks on YouTube. As demand for the H-1B quota 2025 remains high, employers should start preparing early for the FY 2026 lottery to increase their chances of selection. The H-1B registration process for FY 2026 is set to open in March 2025, and early preparation is essential for a successful petition. Employers should begin assessing their sponsorship needs, organizing required documentation, and ensuring compliance with any USCIS updates. With USCIS continuously refining the process, staying informed about any changes will help avoid delays or disqualifications.

To maximize the chances of selection and approval, employers should work closely with immigration attorneys who understand the complexities of H-1B filings. 

Don’t wait until the last minute—start preparing now to ensure a smooth and compliant filing. Schedule a consultation today with The Law Offices of Sweta Khandelwal!

 

 

Conclusion 

Even if the H-1B quota 2025 is filled, there are still viable options to explore. Whether you qualify for a cap-exempt petition or need to strategize for FY 2026 H-1B registration, proactive planning is essential. Staying informed about policy changes and preparing documentation in advance can improve your chances. 

Navigating immigration rules can be complex, but you don’t have to do it alone—The Law Offices of Sweta Khandelwal is here to provide expert guidance every step of the way. Get in touch with Sweta Khandelwal today to explore your best options. Need help figuring out your next move? Contact the Law Offices of Sweta Khandelwal today.

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.