H1B Lottery 2026: What Immigrants and Employers Need to Know

Reviewed by: Nicole Gunara, Managing Attorney at Manifest Law

If you’re an employer seeking skilled talent from abroad or an immigrant looking to work in the U.S., now is the time to start preparing for the FY 2026 H-1B visa registration process. With some important changes to keep in mind, it’s crucial to stay ahead. 

Let’s dive into key dates, updates, and the registration process for the H-1B to set you up for success.

Key Dates for H1B 2026 Lottery Registration:

New Updates and Changes for H1B  lottery 2026

USCIS recently announced a few important updates and changes will shape the H-1B registration process this year. 

Here’s what you need to know:

• Beneficiary-centric selection process: USCIS will continue using the beneficiary-centric selection process introduced in FY 2025. This means that each unique beneficiary is counted separately, and if USCIS receives enough registrations, a random lottery will be conducted for each beneficiary. In summary, better odds of winning than years where the selection process was not beneficiary-centric.

• H-1B Registration fee: The fee for submitting each registration is now $215. This must be paid when submitting the registration for each potential H-1B beneficiary.

• Credit card limit increase: To address the high volume of registrations, the U.S. Department of Treasury has increased the daily credit card transaction limit from $24,999.99 to $99,999.99. This increase helps manage the registration surge. If you’re submitting a large number of registrations, anything over this amount will need to be processed through ACH, so make sure your bank doesn’t block this type of transaction.

• Improvements to tools: USCIS has made significant improvements for employers and their legal representatives. For instance, paralegals can now work with multiple legal representatives and streamline the filing process. USCIS is also allowing employers to upload beneficiary data in a spreadsheet to automatically pre-populate registration forms, reducing errors and speeding up the process.

Breaking Down the H-1B Registration Process: Step by Step

Step 1: Employers Get Started

Employers must create an account on the USCIS online portal to submit the registration. If you’ve done this before, your account will automatically convert to an organizational account. With this account, a registration application can be prepared and submitted.

Step 2: The Lottery Process

Once an employer submits a timely registration and the registration period ends, USCIS will conduct a random lottery if the number of registrations exceeds the annual cap. Two caps apply:

• Regular Cap: For general candidates.
• Advanced Degree Cap: For candidates with a U.S. master’s degree (J.D., LLMs, M.D.s, count as well!) or higher.

Employers whose individual registrations are selected can proceed with filing the full H-1B petition for the sponsored person.

Step 3: Notification of Results

On or about March 31, 2025, both employers and applicants will receive a notification through their USCIS online accounts. If you’re selected, your employer can submit the complete H-1B petition starting on April 1, 2025. 

If you’re not selected, you’ll need to wait until subsequent possible rounds of selection (in scenarios when the quota is not filled by the first batch of applications, or to enroll next year. 

Alternatively, reach out to Manifest Law to explore other visa options.

Tips for a Smooth Registration Process

For Immigrants: First, double-check that you qualify for an H-1B and gather all the necessary documentation. Communicate with your employer to ensure they submit the registration on time and that the job description aligns with the H-1B requirements.

For Employers: Don’t wait until the last minute and seek legal counsel as soon as possible! Set up your USCIS account early, and make sure you’re ready to submit the registrations on time. Ensure that the job descriptions match the specialized occupation criteria—this is a key factor in whether your registration will be accepted.

What Happens After H-1B Registration?

If your registration is selected in the lottery, your employer can file a complete H-1B petition (Form I-129) starting April 1, 2025. If not selected, you have two options: either try again next year or explore other visa opportunities that might be available to you.

How Manifest Law Can Help

At Manifest Law, we understand that the H-1B process can feel overwhelming. Our team is here to make it easy for you, whether you’re an employer or an immigrant looking to work in the U.S. We’ll guide you through the registration, ensuring everything is submitted correctly and on time. And if you’re not selected, don’t worry. We’ll help you explore other visa options, like O-1 or L-1, to keep your plans moving forward.

Book a free evaluation today.