Introduction

The H-1B lottery for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 will offer new opportunities for thousands of hopeful foreign nationals and their employers vying for one of the 85,000 available visa slots. Here’s everything you need to know about the anticipated lottery process, critical insights from previous years, key steps to improve your chances of being selected, and alternative options if you are not selected.

Timeline and Registration Process for FY 2026

The registration period for the FY 2026 H-1B lottery is expected to begin in early March 2025 and conclude a few weeks later, similar to registration periods of previous H-1B Fiscal Years. During this timeframe, employers electronically enter prospective H-1B beneficiary/employees into the H-1B lottery and await results while monitoring USCIS updates.

Insights from the FY 2025 Lottery

Trends in the FY 2025 Lottery

• First and Second Rounds of Selection: In FY 2025, USCIS conducted two selection rounds due to a lower-than-expected petition submission rate among H-1B registrations initially chosen. 120,603 registrations were selected in April and 14,534 were selected in August, for an overall total of 135,137.
• Decline in Multiple Registrations: FY 2025 saw a significant reduction in multiple registrations per beneficiary due to USCIS what we think could happen under the Trump administration here.
• Economic Conditions: Variations in the U.S. job market and economic conditions also contributed to fluctuating numbers, with industry-specific slowdowns potentially influencing employer demand for H-1B visas.
• Anti-Fraud Measures: USCIS will continue its focus on reducing abuse by enforcing a strict one-registration-per-applicant rule, promoting fairness and cutting down on multiple entries.

Lottery Results Over the Years

_{*The count of eligible registrations excludes duplicate registrations, those deleted by the prospective employer prior to the close of the registration period, and those with failed payments.
**Rate of Approval is calculated using Selected Registrations / Eligible Registrations.
Source: USCIS}

Preparing for the FY 2026 H-1B Lottery

To maximize chances of selection in the FY 2026 H-1B lottery, consider the following strategies:

• Monitor USCIS Updates: Stay informed about changes to H-1B policies, procedures, and any potential adjustments in registration guidelines. Subscribe to USCIS alerts and consult with immigration experts.
• Secure Authentic Job Offers: Given the continued focus on fraud prevention, ensure each registration is backed by a verifiable job offer. USCIS scrutinizes applications to confirm the authenticity of employment offers for each applicant.
• Timely Registration: As in past years, adhere strictly to the registration timelines. For FY 2026, it is anticipated that registration will open in March 2025, with a $215 registration fee.
• Compile Thorough Documentation: Ensure that all necessary documents, including job descriptions and evidence of the beneficiary’s qualifications, are well-prepared to support the H-1B petition if selected.
• Explore Alternative Visa Options: Given the competitive nature of the H-1B lottery, consider alternative visa categories such as the O-1 for individuals with extraordinary ability or the L-1 for intracompany transferees.

Estimated H-1B Cap Season Timeline for FY 2026

Though official dates for the FY 2026 H-1B cap season are yet to be announced, historical patterns suggest the following approximate schedule:

• Registration Window: Expected to open in mid-March 2025, with a typical duration of 2-3 weeks.
• Initial Selection Results: Early April 2025.
• Petition Filing Period: April 1 to June 30, 2025.

Registering for the H-1B Lottery

To enter the H-1B lottery, both the potential H-1B worker and the sponsoring employer must set up online USCIS accounts. During registration, specific information and a $215 fee are required. Given the short registration period, timely submission is essential. USCIS offers comprehensive guidance on navigating this process, including a step-by-step instructional video and an FAQ section.

H-1B Lottery Selection Process

After registration closes, the H-1B lottery selection process generally follows these steps:

• Random Selection: If registrations exceed the annual cap, a randomized lottery selects candidates eligible to proceed.
• Selection Notifications: Both selected and non-selected registrants are notified. Employers can check an applicant’s lottery status through their USCIS account, which may display one of the following statuses:
  • Submitted: Registration is valid and submitted.
  • Selected: Eligible to apply for an H-1B visa.
  • Not Selected: Not chosen in this lottery.
  • Denied: Registrations submitted multiple times by the same employer for the same individual are invalidated.
  • Invalidated-Failed Payment: Registration was unsuccessful due to a payment failure.

Alternative Options for Non-Selected Applicants

For applicants who are not selected in this year’s lottery, alternative pathways remain available, including:

• Cap-Exempt H-1B: Certain institutions like universities and nonprofit research organizations are not subject to the annual H-1B lottery. Finding a job in one of these institutions provides an alternative pathway to H-1B status.
  .
• Concurrent Cap-Exempt H-1B: At The Build Fellowship we offer cap-exempt H-1B opportunities, allowing foreign nationals to work part-time on a cap-exempt H-1B while maintaining their employment with any H-1B cap subject employer. Learn more about this path and success stories from past participants on our Fellowship Program page.

Other Visas and Pathways: Non-selected applicants might also consider other visas, including the L-1, E-3, TN, and O-1, depending on specific work categories or nationalities.

An immigration pathway to train the future U.S. workforce

The Build Fellowship offers a powerful solution for foreign nationals who were not selected in the H-1B lottery, but want to continue working in the U.S. Through our partnerships with nonprofits and universities, we enable fellows to work in part-time cap-exempt H-1B roles while retaining their primary employment.

Get started

About the author

Michael Cruse is an Immigration Program Co-Director at The Build Fellowship where he develops and directs, as well as guides Fellows through, the organization’s immigration lifecycle, including working closely with its legal team. Prior to joining The Build Fellowship, Michael served as an Immigration Lawyer for over 15 years at large, corporate firms in New York City, a boutique law firm in Minneapolis, and a nonprofit organization in Washington, DC. Michael holds a B.A. from the University of Arizona and a J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

More from this author