Each year, U.S. employers seeking to hire highly skilled foreign workers must participate in the H-1B visa lottery — a competitive and time-sensitive process. If you’re hoping to obtain an H-1B visa or sponsor someone for one, understanding the registration process and what happens after is critical as an immigration lawyer can attest.
What Is The H-1B Lottery?
The H-1B program allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations such as technology, engineering, finance, and more. Due to the annual cap (85,000 visas total, including 20,000 for advanced U.S. degree holders), USCIS conducts a random lottery if more registrations are submitted than visas available — which is almost always the case.
Step 1: Electronic Registration Is Required
To enter the lottery, employers must first submit an online registration through the USCIS online portal during the designated window (usually March). Each registration includes the prospective employee’s information and a registration fee.
For FY 2026 (work starting October 1, 2025), the registration window closed on March 22, 2025. Employers who submitted registrations were notified whether their candidate was selected in the first round of the lottery.
First Round Selections Have Been Made
USCIS has completed the first round of selections for FY 2026. If your registration was selected, your employer now has the opportunity to submit a full H-1B petition during the designated filing period.
If you weren’t selected — don’t give up hope just yet as our friends at Bolour / Carl Immigration Group, APC would advise.
Could There Be A Second Lottery?
Yes — it’s possible. In fact, USCIS held a second lottery last year (FY 2025) when the number of H-1B petitions filed after the first selection did not meet the visa cap.
A second round of selections could occur again this year if enough petitions are not submitted or approved from the first round. USCIS has not confirmed whether there will be another round yet, but those with unselected registrations should monitor their USCIS accounts and stay in close contact with their immigration attorney.
What You Should Do Now
- If your registration was selected: File the full H-1B petition as soon as possible.
- If your registration wasn’t selected: Wait and monitor — a second lottery may happen.
- If you missed this year’s registration: Start preparing now for next year. You’ll need a U.S. employer to sponsor you.
You should reach out to someone in the legal field for further guidance. They can help you get all of the materials together that you will need so that you have them ready to go. They can also give you more information on how the lottery works and what a second one might look like. Although they will hope you win the lottery, it is possible even with a second lottery that you are not able to get a visa.
That being said, an attorney can advise you on the next steps to take and other ways to get different types of visas that apply to your situation. They will act as a knowledgeable advocate on your behalf. If you are seeking help with immigration, reach out to a lawyer near you immediately for more information.
