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Last Updated On: March 10, 2025 | Published On: March 6, 2025
Tens of thousands of skilled immigrants compete for the highly sought-after H-1B visa each year. Since so many people petition each year, USCIS places an annual limit on the number of H-1B visas issued and conducts an annual lottery to select the petitions that go onto processing randomly. The competition for H-1B visas is fierce, and only a small percentage of applicants are chosen yearly. The demand for H-1B visas exceeds the supply, making it crucial to have a well-prepared and error-free application. An experienced immigration attorney is best equipped to help you increase the chances of selection.
In this guide, learn how to prepare for the H-1B Visa Lottery, learn the key updates, hear our predictions for the upcoming season, and keep the page bookmarked for results.
If you are selected in the 2025-2026 H-1B visa lottery, contact VisaNation attorneys for filing your H-1B petition. Contact Us
If you are selected in the 2025-2026 H-1B visa lottery, contact VisaNation attorneys for filing your H-1B petition.
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USCIS has announced that the initial registration period starts at noon Eastern March 7, 2025, and goes through noon Eastern on March 24, 2025. You would benefit significantly by beginning preparations sooner than later.
One of the big changes, as outlined in the official rule is that USCIS is choosing registrations based on unique beneficiaries, not by how many registrations are made for the beneficiaries. In other words, if multiple employers submit registrations for the same person, it won’t increase their chances of being selected. Each person will only be entered into the lottery once, regardless of the number of registrations submitted on their behalf.
The agency is doing so by implementing several integrity measures in the registration process, including requiring the beneficiary’s passport info or travel document info and prohibiting the beneficiary from being registered under more than one personal identifier document.
USCIS will retain the right to deny or revoke any H-1B petition that’s been approved where the beneficiary has changed their personal identifying information. Thus, a beneficiary can have multiple registrations sent from different employers, but an employer cannot submit multiple registrations for the same beneficiary under multiple proposed job titles.
Please note that the rule went into effect on March 4, 2024.
The online H-1B registration portal allows employers to submit one registration per beneficiary they are sponsoring. Start by creating a USCIS online account. On March 7, 2025, at noon EST, the registration portal opens. Registration involves submitting the beneficiary’s information along with a non-refundable $215 fee, which is much simpler and cheaper than filing an H-1B petition. The beneficiary should not pay the $215 fee.
On March 24, 2025, at noon EST, the H-1B registration submission window will close, and no more registrations will be accepted. USCIS will then conduct a random lottery of the submitted petitions and select 65,000 from the regular H-1B cap and 20,000 from the Master’s cap, as in previous years.
Chilean and Singaporean citizens have 6,800 visas set aside as part of the Free Trade Agreement. On or before March 31, 2025, USCIS will change the registration statuses to reflect the winners. Those selected need to file petitions and have them approved to obtain an H-1B visa. If USCIS chooses your registration, the soonest you can file your complete H-1B petition is April 2025. Be sure to read our full guide on the H-1B visa to find out more.
Previously, employers were required to request a start date of October 1 of the applicable fiscal year. However, DHS has revised this requirement, permitting employers to request start dates beyond October 1, aligning with existing USCIS policy.
This change was implemented to provide greater flexibility to employers in planning and managing their workforce needs. By eliminating the restrictive regulatory text found at 8 CFR 214.2(h)(8)(iii)(A)(4), DHS has clarified that while October 1 remains the earliest possible start date for a given fiscal year, employers can now request later start dates that better align with their operational requirements.
It’s imperative to follow all the submission rules to ensure the greatest chances of approval.
USCIS continues to implement the beneficiary-centric selection process introduced in FY 2025. Under this system, each unique beneficiary is entered into the lottery once, regardless of the number of registrations submitted on their behalf. This approach aims to enhance fairness and reduce multiple registrations for the same individual.
USCIS has introduced organizational accounts to facilitate the collaborative preparation of H-1B registrations and petitions. These accounts allow multiple representatives within an organization to work together on filings, streamlining the process. An organizational account is required to submit registrations for the FY 2026 H-1B cap selection process.
To accommodate the higher registration fee, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has temporarily increased the daily credit card transaction limit from $24,999.99 to $99,999.99 for the FY 2026 H-1B cap season.
A major policy shift in January 2025 allows H-1B beneficiaries who own a business, even with a controlling interest, to self-sponsor their H1B visa. This recent groundbreaking policy is significant for entrepreneurs, allowing beneficiaries to self-sponsor their H-1B status. It removes a major barrier for those who want to start or own a business in the U.S. and work for their company in H-1B status. Now, with this flexibility, entrepreneurs can legally establish and grow their businesses without having to find a separate employer to sponsor their H-1B.
This opens new doors for self-starters and innovators looking to establish themselves in the U.S. and contribute to its entrepreneurial landscape. This shift could also have wider implications for the startup ecosystem, making it easier for foreign-born innovators to bring their ideas to life in the U.S. It’s especially beneficial for those with controlling ownership interests, as they previously faced the challenge of finding an external sponsor or could not fit the traditional employer-employee model.
On January 17, 2025, a new H-1B rule went into effect, strengthening the definition of specialty occupations. This rule provides greater authority to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to deny or revoke approvals for employers who do not cooperate during site visits. It also streamlines approvals for extension petitions where deference to past decisions is warranted.
Are you thinking of taking advantage of this change, or are you looking into more details on how to navigate this new policy? VisaNation can help guide you through the process and requirements for self-sponsored H-1B. Contact Us
Are you thinking of taking advantage of this change, or are you looking into more details on how to navigate this new policy? VisaNation can help guide you through the process and requirements for self-sponsored H-1B.
If a beneficiary is chosen, all organizations that submitted a registration for that beneficiary will be notified and can file a petition for them during the petition filing period. USCIS plans to use passport information to identify beneficiaries.
Next, the officer will examine your case and determine whether you qualify for the H-1B. If your H-1B petition fails at this stage, USCIS will issue a denial. You will need extensive work to fix the petition. If it passes, USCIS will notify you, and you will be able to start working on or after October 1, 2025.
There will be one of four statuses in the online portal indicated next to your case. They are explained below:
After the sponsoring employer is notified that their H-1B registration has been selected, it’s time to file the complete H-1B petition with all accompanying evidence. Again, we recommend you do this alongside a qualified immigration attorney to ensure all fields and documents are correctly included. Applicants should send the entire packet of information to the service center. Once they receive it, you’ll be issued a 13-digit USCIS case number.
Form I-797C, Notice of Action is issued by USCIS to communicate information about receipt, rejection, transfer, reopening, or an upcoming appointment should you be selected in the lottery. In the example below (disclaimer – names, IDs and personal information have been changed for privacy), you’ll see it has the title Fiscal Year 2025 Selection, and then under it has the company, employer identification number, the person the registration was submitted on behalf of, and the confirmation number.
If selected, the next paragraph will say, “This registration was selected toward the number projected as needed to reach the congressionally mandated cap (regular cap).” In the next sentence, you will see what dates the company needs to file the corresponding H-1B petition. Be aware that no other beneficiary apart from the one identified in the I-797C may have a petition submitted. The petition should also include the start date of October 1, 2025.
Are you wondering what the numbers mean? The first three letters are the service center processing your H-1B petition. For example, if the Nebraska Service Center handles your case, the first three letters will be LIN. If the Texas Service Center handles your case, the letters will be SRC. Next, EAC indicates the Vermont service center. The last center is WAC for the California Service Center. The following numbers are the year, followed by the day, and the case number is the last five digits. An example number would look like SRC-15-021-93822. You can always check your USCIS case status at any time.
Take a look at these H-1B 2025-2026 application deadlines and helpful tips for filing your petition correctly while maximizing your chances of selection.
The H-1B is unique in that there are specific dates that you must respect to qualify. Take note of the following H-1B 2025 application deadline dates for the lottery system:
March 7 2025: Sponsors can submit H-1B registrations for their beneficiaries through their accounts at 12 p.m. Eastern Time.
March 24 2025: The USCIS will stop accepting registrations at noon Eastern Time.
March 31 2025: The USCIS will change the status of the submitted registrations to reflect the lottery results.
April 1st 2025: This is the earliest date for the H-1B cap-subject petition to be filed.
June 30 2025: Deadline to submit H-1B petitions under the regular lottery.
October 1 2025: The beneficiaries of approved H-1B petitions can work as H-1B employees.
The H-1B visa is not limited to full-time workers. If you only work part-time, this visa option may be for you.
To ensure that your H-1B petition has the best chance of approval, avoid these common pitfalls that tend to result in rejections:
If you and your immigration lawyer conclude that you do not qualify for the H-1B visa or another option would serve you better, here are some alternatives.
As we approach the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 H-1B lottery, several factors—including political dynamics, increased registration fees, technological advancements, and anti-fraud measures—are poised to influence the number of registrations and the overall landscape of the program.
The registration price has increased significantly. The increased fee may influence employer participation, particularly among smaller firms and startups with limited resources.
Expected Outcome: Smaller employers and startups may reduce their participation in the lottery, leading to a potential decrease in total registrations. However, larger firms with more resources will continue to participate at the same level, possibly making the lottery even more competitive among larger employers. startups may reduce their participation in the lottery, leading to a potential decrease in total registrations. However, larger firms with more resources will continue to participate at the same level, possibly making the lottery even more competitive among larger employers.
One of the most significant changes for the upcoming FY 2026 H-1B lottery is USCIS’s implementation of a beneficiary-centric selection process. Under the new guidelines, employers will no longer be able to submit multiple registrations for the same beneficiary under different job positions or employers. This is a direct response to previous concerns about large companies and consulting firms submitting multiple entries for the same individual to increase their odds of selection.
Expected Outcome: As a result, we can expect to see fewer total registrations in the H-1B lottery. While this may initially seem like a disadvantage, it increases the chances of each individual applicant being selected. This change will also likely reduce the ability of large firms to game the system, making the lottery fairer.
The technology sector continues to experience robust growth, with advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning driving demand for specialized talent. U.S. companies are increasingly seeking professionals with expertise in these areas to maintain a competitive edge. This demand suggests that the volume of H-1B registrations may remain substantial as employers look to the global talent pool to fill critical roles.
Expected Outcome: Despite an expected drop in total registrations due to changes in the system, the demand for tech talent will ensure strong participation in the H-1B lottery, although it may not reach the peak numbers seen in FY 2025. Further, given the low selection rates in recent years, there is still a large pool of previous applicants who are still seeking their H-1B and may reapply for FY2026.
Given these factors, we expect a drop in registrations compared to 2024-2025 due to anti-fraud measures and higher fees but still a strong overall demand due to ongoing labor shortages in tech.
This is significantly lower than FY 2025’s 780,884 but still higher than pre-2022 levels due to sustained demand for high-skilled workers.
Resolving the backlog of visa applications in the United States would likely positively impact the economy and society. It would allow more individuals to come to the United States to work, study, or visit, increasing the number of people contributing to the economy through taxes, spending, and innovation.
It would also reunite families that have been separated due to the backlog. This has been a long-term issue in the U.S. since the pandemic. Thus, we should anticipate some legislative or administrative reforms that will tackle this issue and increase processing speeds.
Each H-1B registration requires a $250 registration fee that USCIS will not refund even if you’re not chosen in the lottery. If USCIS selects a registration, you need to subsequently file Form I-129 and pay the following H-1B visa fees:
Fee
Amount
Responsible for Fee
Registration Fee
$215
Employer
Basic Filing Fee
$780$460 (for small employers and nonprofits)
Public Law 114-113 Fee
$4,000 (if 50+ employees)
Premium Processing (optional)
$2,805
Employer or Employee
USCIS Anti-Fraud Fee
$500
ACWIA Education and Training Fee
$750 (less than 25 employees)
$1,500 (more than 25 employees)
Asylum Program Fee
$600 (if 26+ employees)$300 (if 25 employees or less)$0 (for nonprofit organizations)
Attorney Fee
Variable
H-1B attorney fees differ tremendously depending on the firm. Since the stages are now tiered, only certain companies will eventually file the complete petitions. VisaNation Law Group’s legal fees are tiered as follows:
Only after USCIS confirms that your registration has been selected in the cap lottery can you retain VisaNation for filing.
*April 1st is the earliest date that selected FY 2025-2026 H-1B cap-subject petitions may be filed.
H4 Dependent Fees (if applicable):
The process of going from an H-1B visa to a green card should remain the same for the 2025 season. Learn more in this H-1B to Green Card complete guide!
The United States benefits greatly from overseas talent to fill labor shortages across industries. According to the American Immigration Council the median wage for H1B workers in 2022 was $108,000. Contrast that to the median wage of U.S. workers of $45,760. Below is a chart comparing the H1B registrations received year-over-year beginning from 2021 and extending to the last fiscal year. You can see a significant increase in 2024, the most registrations by far.
Our attorneys are often asked many questions about the H-1B lottery. Below, we have compiled a list of the answers to the most commonly asked questions about this topic:
Failing to earn a qualifying master’s degree or higher when filing the H-1B petition will lead to a denial.
“If a registration is submitted requesting consideration under the INA 214(g)(5)(C) advanced degree exemption because the beneficiary has earned, or will earn prior to the filing of the petition, a master’s or higher degree from a U.S. institution of higher education, and the registration is selected under the advanced degree exemption, the beneficiary must be eligible for the advanced degree exemption at the time of filing the I-129 petition.”
You can’t appeal H-1B registrations USCIS marked invalid due to being a duplicate. For this reason and many more, it’s highly advised to file with the help of a qualified H-1B lawyer.
The best way to stay updated is to subscribe to our monthly newsletter and work with a qualified immigration professional throughout the process.
On March 31, logging onto your USCIS online portal should show that the status of your H-1B registration has changed, though it may also have stayed the same.
A Request for Evidence is when USCIS needs more information to decide whether to approve it or deny it. Therefore, it’s critical to respond to the RFE within the specified time window. There are three ways you and your lawyer can respond to one.
The first approach is a full response. Then, as the name implies, you submit all the requested evidence to USCIS along with your response.
The second approach is a partial response, and these tend to be the most common. With this response, you only submit some of the evidence USCIS requests either because it would be better for your case not to submit it all or you do not have access to the evidence they are asking for.
The third approach is no response. You and your legal counsel should always discuss the best method to respond to RFEs together.
If you lose your job under H-1B status, USCIS will grant a 60-day grace period that starts on the day that your H-1B sponsored employer no longer employs you. You can either find a new sponsor, change your immigration status, or leave the United States entirely in this time frame.
VisaNation Law Group attorneys have an excellent track record of gaining approvals in complex H-1B cases, including those sponsored by startup companies. The best way to get started is to schedule a consultation. Time is of the essence with H-1B season here so don't wait!
Tags: H-1B cap, H-1B Lottery
