H-1B visa registration for FY26 opens today: Key things to know

The H-1B visa registration process for the fiscal year 2026 begins today, March 7, 2025, and will continue until March 24, 2025. US employers looking to hire skilled foreign workers in fields such as IT, healthcare, and engineering must complete the registration process within this period. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced major changes this year, including a significant fee hike and a beneficiary-centric selection process.

Higher registration fee for H-1B applicants

USCIS has raised the H-1B registration fee from $10 to $215 per beneficiary, marking a 2050% increase. This fee is non-refundable and must be paid at the time of registration. The agency stated that the increase is intended to cover administrative costs and reduce the number of non-serious applications.

Registration process and lottery selection

The registration must be submitted electronically through the USCIS online portal before the March 24 deadline. Once the registration period closes, USCIS will conduct a random lottery selection and notify selected applicants by March 31, 2025.

Beneficiary-centric selection process

Under the revised selection process, each applicant has an equal chance of being selected, regardless of the number of registrations submitted on their behalf. This rule, introduced in FY2025, aims to prevent employers from gaining an unfair advantage by submitting multiple registrations for the same beneficiary.

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Steps for employers

To complete the H-1B registration, US employers must:

• Create a USCIS online account if they do not already have one.
• Pay the $215 registration fee per applicant.
• Submit the registration within the March 7-24 window.
• Wait for lottery results, which will be announced by March 31, 2025.
• If selected, file the full H-1B petition within the designated timeframe.

Payment options and transaction limits

Due to the increased fee, USCIS has raised the daily credit card transaction limit from $24,999.99 to $99,999.99. Employers exceeding this amount must pay through Automated Clearing House (ACH). USCIS advises businesses to inform their banks in advance to avoid transaction blocks.

Next steps after selection

Employers whose registrations are selected in the lottery can begin filing full H-1B cap-subject petitions starting April 1, 2025. The petition filing window is expected to remain open until June 30, 2025. Approved applicants can begin employment on or after October 1, 2025.

What happens if you're not selected?

If a registration is not selected in the initial lottery, it will remain in "Submitted" status. USCIS may conduct additional selection rounds if there are unfilled cap slots. Applicants should regularly check their USCIS accounts for updates.

With the deadline approaching, employers and applicants should complete registrations early and ensure compliance with the new rules. The revised process aims to improve fairness while addressing concerns related to system abuse and fraud.

Fraud prevention measures

To enhance the integrity of the H-1B lottery system, USCIS has implemented new fraud prevention measures, effective since January 30, 2024. These include stricter beneficiary verification, preventing duplicate entries, and ensuring only selected applicants can submit full H-1B petitions.