FY 2026 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Runs from March 7, 2025 – March 24, 2025

On February 25, 2025, USCIS announced information for the initial registration period for the FY2026 H-1B cap.  The fiscal year will run from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.  Individuals selected in this year’s H-1B lottery who then submit an H-1B petition that is approved, may begin working in H-1B Status on October 1, 2025.

Key Takeaways:

Registration:

• Start at Noon EST on Friday, March 7, 2025
• End at Noon EST on Monday, March 24, 2025

Registration Filing Fee:

• $215.00

Method for Registration:

• Electronically through the USCIS online account portals, accessible at https://my.uscis.gov/.

Selection Date:

• After March 24, 2025, but no later than March 31, 2025

Note: While organizations may create an online USCIS account prior to March 7, they will not be able to add registrants/beneficiaries until March 7.

Like last year, USCIS will use the beneficiary-centric selection process.  Under this approach, registrations are selected by the individual beneficiary, rather than by the registration or company.  In other words, even if a beneficiary has multiple registrations in the lottery, the beneficiary will only be selected once.

As a reminder, USCIS announced its final H-1B Modernization rule, which went into effect January 17, 2025.  These rules are in place for this year’s H-1B Cap-subject lottery.  For more information on the H-1B modernization rule, you can visit https://www.kolkocasey.com/h-1b-modernization-rule/

For more information on the H-1B program, or if you want our firm’s assistance with the registration for new H-1Bs, please reach out to Kolko & Casey, P.C. at (303) 371-1822.