USCIS Announces H-1B Visa Lottery Results for 2026 Season

2025-03-31 politics

Washington, Monday, 31 March 2025.
USCIS has announced the FY 2026 H-1B visa lottery results. Key updates include a 2050% increase in registration fees and a shift to a beneficiary-centric selection process.

Registration Process and Timeline

The H-1B visa registration period for fiscal year 2026 ran from March 7 to March 24, 2025 [1][2]. USCIS began announcing lottery selections on March 29, 2025, with notifications being released in phases [3]. The most significant change this year is the dramatic increase in registration fees from $10 to $215 per beneficiary, representing a 2050% increase [4]. This fee hike is part of USCIS’s strategy to cover administrative costs and reduce frivolous applications [4].

New Selection Process and Registration Numbers

USCIS has implemented a beneficiary-centric selection model for FY 2026, ensuring each candidate enters the lottery only once regardless of multiple employer sponsorships [2]. The total number of registrations has notably decreased by 38.6%, from 758,994 in FY 2025 to approximately 470,342 for FY 2026 [2]. The annual cap remains at 65,000 visas, with an additional 20,000 reserved for advanced degree holders from U.S. universities [5].

Major Tech Companies Lead Applications

Leading technology companies continue to dominate H-1B visa sponsorships. Based on the previous year’s data, Amazon led with 9,265 approvals, followed by Cognizant Technology Solutions with 6,321, and Google with 5,364 approvals [5]. Indian technology firms also maintained a strong presence, with Infosys securing 8,140 approvals and TCS receiving 5,274 [5].

Next Steps and Important Deadlines

Selected registrants must submit their complete H-1B petitions between April 1 and June 30, 2025 [6]. USCIS will only accept electronic submissions for this period [7]. For those not selected, alternative options include pursuing O-1, L-1, or TN visas, or considering Day 1 CPT programs [8]. USCIS may conduct additional selection rounds if the initial filing rate is lower than expected [2].

Sources

visa lottery foreign workers