FY 2026 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 7

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially announced the opening of the initial registration period for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 H-1B cap. The registration window will commence at noon Eastern on March 7, 2025, and will remain open until noon Eastern on March 24, 2025. This is a crucial period for prospective petitioners, employers, and representatives to register their beneficiaries electronically through the USCIS online system.

Key Dates and Process for H-1B Registration

• Registration Opens: March 7, 2025, at noon Eastern
• Registration Closes: March 24, 2025, at noon Eastern
• Selection Notifications: Expected by March 31, 2025
• Registration Fee: $215 per beneficiary

During this period, H-1B cap-subject petitioners or their authorized representatives must use a USCIS online account to complete electronic registrations for each beneficiary they wish to enter into the selection process. This online system streamlines the registration process, reducing paperwork and improving efficiency.

Beneficiary-Centric Selection Process for FY 2026

USCIS will continue using the beneficiary-centric selection process, which was first implemented in FY 2025. This system ensures that registrations are selected based on unique beneficiaries rather than multiple submissions, preventing duplicate registrations from increasing selection chances unfairly.

• If the total number of unique beneficiaries exceeds the H-1B cap limit, USCIS will conduct a random selection process.
• If the cap is not met by March 24, 2025, all properly submitted registrations will be selected.
• Selection notifications will be sent via USCIS online accounts, no later than March 31, 2025.

How to Register for the H-1B Lottery

1. Create a USCIS Online Account
   • Employers without an existing USCIS account must create an organizational account before initiating registrations.
   • If an employer had an H-1B registrant account between FY 2021 and FY 2024 but did not use it for FY 2025, their account will automatically convert to an organizational account upon login.
   • First-time users can create accounts at any time before the registration period.
2. Enter Beneficiary Information & Submit Registration
   • Representatives may add clients at any time, but beneficiary information can only be entered starting March 7.
   • Employers must submit a $215 registration fee per beneficiary.
3. Await Selection Notification
   • USCIS will notify selected registrants through their USCIS online account by March 31, 2025.
   • Only employers with selected beneficiaries can file full H-1B petitions.

Temporary Increase in Credit Card Transaction Limit

For the FY 2026 H-1B cap season, the U.S. Department of Treasury has approved a temporary increase in the daily credit card transaction limit from $24,999.99 to $99,999.99 per day. This change accommodates the high volume of registrations that typically exceed previous limits. Transactions over $99,999.99 must be processed via Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments, which may require prior bank approval.

Organizational Account Enhancements for FY 2026

USCIS has implemented several enhancements to organizational accounts aimed at streamlining the H-1B registration and petition filing process:

• Paralegal Multi-Representative Access: Paralegals can now work with multiple legal representatives, allowing them to prepare H-1B registrations and petitions across different attorneys within a single paralegal account.
• Improved Client Management: Legal representatives can now add paralegals to company clients more efficiently.
• Form I-129 Pre-Population: Selected H-1B registrations will have certain fields automatically pre-populated to reduce manual entry errors.
• Bulk Upload for H-1B Beneficiary Data: Employers can now prepare and upload spreadsheets containing beneficiary information, which will then auto-populate data in the H-1B registration system.

What Happens After Selection?

If a beneficiary is selected, the petitioner must submit a complete H-1B cap-subject petition along with supporting documentation and fees. Only employers with a selected registration can file an H-1B petition for their beneficiary.

• Selected petitions must be filed within the filing window specified by USCIS.
• USCIS will process H-1B cap petitions in accordance with existing regulations and timelines.
• Employers can also submit Form I-907 for premium processing, which expedites petition adjudication.

Key Takeaways for Employers & Representatives

• March 7 – March 24, 2025: Initial registration period for FY 2026 H-1B cap.
• $215 registration fee per beneficiary.
• Selection process based on unique beneficiaries, not multiple registrations.
• Temporary increase in daily credit card transaction limit to $99,999.99.
• Enhanced USCIS organizational accounts to streamline registration and petition processes.

Employers and representatives should prepare early by creating organizational accounts, gathering required beneficiary data, and ensuring payment methods comply with USCIS regulations. As demand for H-1B visas remains high, registering within the designated timeframe is essential for successful participation in the selection process.

For further details, visit the USCIS H-1B Electronic Registration Process page and stay updated with the latest H-1B cap news and procedural changes.