The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially announced the H-1B visa cap registration for fiscal year (FY) 2026, scheduled to begin on March 7, 2025, at noon Eastern and conclude on March 24, 2025, at noon Eastern.
Employers seeking to sponsor foreign workers under the H-1B visa program must complete the online registration process through USCIS online accounts and pay a $215 registration fee per beneficiary.
The beneficiary-centric selection process—first implemented in FY 2025—will continue, ensuring that each beneficiary is entered into the H-1B lottery only once, even if registered by multiple employers.
Highlights of FY 2026 H-1B Registration
- Registration Period: March 7 – March 24, 2025
- Online Registration: Required via USCIS online accounts
- Fee: $215 per applicant
- Selection Process: Beneficiary-centric lottery system
- Results Announcement: By March 31, 2025
- Temporary Credit Card Limit Increase: $99,999.99 per day
- Organizational Account Enhancements: Better collaboration for legal representatives and paralegals
USCIS Online Account Requirement
All H-1B employers and representatives must register their beneficiaries through a USCIS online account.
For Previous Users:
- Employers who had accounts for FY 2021–FY 2024 but did not participate in FY 2025 will have their accounts converted to organizational accounts upon login.
For New Registrants:
- First-time users can create their USCIS online accounts anytime before the registration period.
- Step-by-step video guides and FAQs will be updated with FY 2026 details before the registration period opens.
Beneficiary-Centric Selection Process Continues
For the FY 2026 H-1B cap, USCIS will continue the beneficiary-centric selection process, which prevents duplicate registrations from increasing a candidate’s chances.
How It Works:
- Each beneficiary is counted only once in the H-1B lottery, even if multiple employers submit registrations for them.
- If USCIS receives sufficient registrations, a random selection process will occur.
- USCIS will notify selected applicants via their online accounts by March 31, 2025.
Important: Registering an individual multiple times through different employers does not increase their selection chances.
Temporary Increase in Credit Card Limit
To accommodate the high volume of registrations, the U.S. Department of Treasury has temporarily increased the daily credit card transaction limit for FY 2026 H-1B registrations:
- New limit: $99,999.99 per day (previously $24,999.99)
- Larger transactions can be processed via Automated Clearing House (ACH).
- Employers using ACH payments should verify with their banks for any ACH blocks.
Eligibility & Filing for Selected Petitions
- Only employers with selected registrations can submit H-1B cap-subject petitions.
- This includes petitions under the advanced degree exemption.
- Additional details are available on the H-1B Electronic Registration Process page.
USCIS Organizational Account Enhancements
For FY 2026, USCIS has introduced several enhancements to organizational and representative accounts to improve efficiency:
- Paralegals can collaborate with multiple legal representatives to prepare:
- H-1B registrations
- Form I-129 petitions
- Form I-907 requests for premium processing
These enhancements will streamline the H-1B petition process and will be active before the registration period begins.
Final Takeaways for Employers & Applicants
The FY 2026 H-1B visa registration process introduces key updates aimed at enhancing fairness, transparency, and efficiency.
Highlights:
- Registration opens: March 7, 2025
- Deadline: March 24, 2025
- $215 registration fee per applicant
- Beneficiary-centric selection process ensures fairness
- Selection results announced by March 31, 2025
- USCIS online account required for all registrations
- Credit card transaction limit increased for seamless payments
Employers and representatives should start preparing now by ensuring their USCIS accounts are set up, familiarizing themselves with new organizational account features, and reviewing the registration process to avoid last-minute issues.
With the H-1B visa program being a critical route for high-skilled foreign professionals to work in the United States, these updates will play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth and transparent selection process for all stakeholders.
