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All applicants who were selected have been notified and they can now check the status of their registrations through their USCIS accounts.
USCIS has not revealed the total number of submissions for FY 2026.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has completed the H-1B lottery for the fiscal year 2026. Selected applicants have been notified and can check their registration status through their USCIS accounts. While the total number of submissions remains undisclosed, applicants can verify their status by logging into the USCIS online portal or consulting their employer or legal representative.
When accessing their USCIS account, applicants will see one of several status updates:
Submitted: The registration is still in the system and may be considered if more spots open in future selection rounds.
Selected: The applicant can proceed with filing an H-1B petition starting April 1, 2025.
Not Selected: The registration was not chosen this year.
Denied – Duplicate Registration: Multiple entries were submitted for the same applicant by the same employer, which is not allowed.
Invalidated – Failed Payment: The payment was unsuccessful, leading to registration cancellation.
Deleted: The entry was removed and is no longer under consideration.
Processing Submission: USCIS is still reviewing the registration, which may take up to 72 hours. During this period, access to or editing of the draft is not possible.
Applicants are advised to check their USCIS accounts for updates and follow the necessary steps based on their selection status.
As per the USCIS website, “H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY 2026, including those petitions eligible for the advanced degree exemption, may be filed with USCIS beginning April 1, 2025, if filed for a selected beneficiary and based on a valid registration. Only petitioners with registrations for selected beneficiaries may file H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY 2026. An H-1B cap-subject petition must be properly filed at the correct filing location or online at my.uscis.gov and within the filing period indicated on the relevant selection notice. The period for filing the H-1B cap-subject petition will be at least 90 days. Petitioners must include a copy of the applicable selection notice with the FY 2026 H-1B cap-subject petition.”
USCIS also mentions that petitioners need to provide proof of the applicant’s valid passport or travel document used during registration. Even if an applicant is selected, their employer must still submit the necessary documents to prove they qualify for an H-1B petition. Getting selected in the lottery only means they can apply, but approval depends on meeting all requirements.
During the registration period for the FY 2025 H-1B cap, USCIS received fewer applications compared to FY 2024. The number of individual applicants for the H-1B visa stayed almost the same in both years, as there were 442,000 in 2025 and 446,000 in 2024. However, there were a few more employers applying for these applicants in 2025, around 52,700 compared to 52,000 in 2024.
There was a decrease in eligible registrations; for FY 2025, there were 470,342 applicants, compared to 758,994 in FY 2024. As of now, the number of submissions for fiscal year 2026 has not been revealed yet.
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