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The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to hire highly skilled foreign professionals. But with a limited number of visas and high demand, early preparation is key. Here is a quick overview of the 2026 H-1B visa lottery process, key learnings from past seasons, and practical steps employers can take to navigate the process smoothly.
1. What is the H-1B Visa Cap Lottery?
- Each year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allocates a limited number of H-1B visas through a cap lottery process. Over the past 15 years, the lottery has been necessary due to high demand by U.S. employers.
- There are 65,000 slots available for "regular" H-1B registrations, with an additional 20,000 slots allocated to individuals with a U.S. master's degree or higher.
- To apply for a particular year, employers must submit an electronic registration for each candidate they sponsor. If the number of registrations exceeds the quota, USCIS will conduct a random lottery process to determine which registrations will advance to the next stage.
- For selected candidates, employers will be required to submit detailed individual nonimmigrant applications.
- The lottery system is intended to ensure a fair allocation of visas when demand exceeds supply.
2. When Will the H-1B Cap Lottery Take Place?
- March 2025. This period will also include registration of candidates who fall under the advanced degree quota.
- Employers whose candidates are selected may submit H-1B cap-subject petitions between April 1 and June 30.
- After this period ends, USCIS will determine whether the cap has been met and whether additional lotteries or actions are necessary.
3. Results of the Previous H-1B Visa Cap Season (FY 2025)
- For the FY 2025 H-1B visa cap season, two lotteries were held, in March 2024 and July 2024.
- The total number of registrations decreased significantly compared to FY 2024, with a decrease in the number of applicants who registered multiple times.
- The total number of applicants was approximately 442,000, roughly the same as FY 2024 (446,000).
- The number of employers was similar, with 52,700 in FY 2025 and 52,000 in FY 2024 (actual numbers).
- The number of registrations that were determined to be valid fell sharply, from 758,994 in FY 2024 to 470,342 in FY 2025, a decrease of 38.6%.
- The average number of registrations per person decreased from 1.70 in FY 2024 to 1.06 in FY 2025.
What to Do Now
- Work with legal counsel: Work with your immigration legal counsel to streamline the registration process, stay up to date on updates and changes, and ensure compliance with USCIS requirements.
- Educate stakeholders: Ensure your internal teams, such as HR and management, understand the lottery process, timelines, and areas of responsibilities to prevent delays and improve coordination.
- Prepare alternatives: Not being selected in the H-1B lottery can be a setback, but it doesn’t mean there are no other options. Employers can consider a variety of short-term, long-term, and lesser-known alternatives to ensure they can continue to employ foreign national employees.
