On March 31, 2025, USCIS announced it completed the initial selection process in the fiscal year (FY) 2026 H-1B cap lottery. H-1B petitions for selected registrants may be filed during a 90-day filing window, commencing April 1, 2025.

What’s Next

USCIS has notified all prospective petitioners with selected registrations that they are eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition for the beneficiary named in the selected registration during the 90-day period designated on the selection notice. USCIS online accounts will now be updated to show one of the following statuses for each beneficiary registered:

• • Selected: Indicates that the employer may file an FY 2026 H-1B cap-subject petition for the beneficiary in the designated 90-day filing period.
• • Submitted: A registration status may continue to show “Submitted” after the initial selection process. These registrations will remain in consideration for selection until the end of the fiscal year, at which point all registration statuses will either be Selected, Not Selected, or Denied. If a sufficient number of petitions are not filed and approved for selected beneficiaries within the initial 90-day filing window, USCIS may conduct another lottery from the reserve of “submitted’ registrations until the FY 2025 cap is reached.
• • Not Selected: Not eligible to file an H-1B cap petition based on this registration.
• • Denied – duplicate registration: This notice appears if multiple registrations were submitted by or on behalf of the same employer registrant for the same beneficiary. If denied as a duplicate registration, all registrations submitted by or on behalf of the same registrant for this beneficiary for the fiscal year are invalid.
• • Deleted: The submitted registration has been deleted and is no longer eligible for selection.
• • Invalidated-Failed Payment: A registration payment method was declined and not reconciled, invalidating the registration.

Only petitioners with selected registrations may file H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY 2026 and only for the beneficiary in the applicable selected registration notice. In filing an H-1B petition for the selected registrant, petitioners must submit the selection notice, evidence of the beneficiary’s valid passport or travel document used at the time of registration, and all other supporting documentation to show that the beneficiary qualifies for H-1B status. Employers have a 90-day window during which to file the complete H-1B petition, commencing April 1, 2025.

If you have questions about H-1B cap or if you require assistance, please contact your Van Der Hout representative or call 415-981-3000.