The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially announced the H-1B cap registration schedule for the Fiscal Year 2026. Employers and prospective H-1B applicants should take note of the key dates and changes to ensure a smooth registration process.
Key Dates and Registration Process
- The H-1B cap registration period will open at noon ET on March 7, 2025, and will close at noon ET on March 24, 2025.
- All cap registrations must be completed and submitted online during this period.
- The H-1B cap registration fee has increased to $215 per beneficiary, up from $10 in previous years.
- After the registration period closes, USCIS will conduct the FY 2026 H-1B cap selection process and notify employers of selected beneficiaries by March 31, 2025.
- The H-1B petition filing period begins on April 1, 2025, and will remain open for at least 90 days.
Beneficiary-Centric Selection System
- USCIS will continue using the beneficiary-centric selection system, where a foreign national’s passport or valid travel document will serve as their unique identifier.
- Each beneficiary will only be entered into the lottery once, regardless of the number of registrations submitted on their behalf.
- Employers should ensure that beneficiaries use the same passport or travel document across all registrations to avoid disqualification.
Organizational Account System for Employers
- Employers can create or upgrade their myUSCIS organizational accounts at any time to facilitate collaboration within organizations and with legal representatives.
- The system now allows for batch uploads of H-1B beneficiary data, streamlining the registration process.
H-1B Cap Lottery Process
- USCIS expects to receive more registrations than the 85,000 available H-1B visas.
- Two separate lotteries will be conducted:
- USCIS will notify employers of selected beneficiaries by March 31, 2025.
H-1B Petition Filing Period
- Employers can file H-1B petitions for selected beneficiaries starting April 1, 2025.
- The petition filing period will be at least 90 days long, extending at least until June 30, 2025.
- Beneficiaries with time-sensitive employment authorizations, such as F-1 students with OPT, should file their petitions before their employment authorization expires.
- USCIS will offer online filing for cap and non-cap H-1B petitions, but employers should consult legal counsel to determine whether online or paper filing is most suitable.
What Employers Should Do Now
Employers should begin preparations early by:
- Identifying H-1B cap candidates and gathering required beneficiary data
- Ensuring all beneficiaries have valid passports or travel documents.
- Creating or upgrading myUSCIS organizational accounts to facilitate registration.
- Consulting with legal professionals to ensure a compliant and efficient registration process.
The Law Office of Luke Bowman, Michigan, US, will continue monitoring the H-1B cap registration process and provide timely updates throughout the FY 2026 cap season. Employers and applicants should stay informed, review all guidelines, and take necessary steps to ensure a successful application process.
For further assistance and legal guidance on the H-1B cap registration, reach out to the Law Office of Luke Bowman, Michigan, US
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If you have any questions or concerns about the information provided above, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Luke Bowman
The Law offices of Luke Bowman