USCIS announces H-1B visa registration for FY 2026: Key details and process explained

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2026 H-1B cap. The registration will open at noon (IST 10:30 PM) on March 7, 2025, and will run until noon (IST 10:30 PM) on March 24, 2025.
During this period, prospective petitioners and their representatives must register each beneficiary electronically using a USCIS online account and pay the required registration fee to participate in the selection process.
Prospective petitioners who wish to submit H-1B cap-subject petitions must follow these steps:
Create a USCIS online account
Employers or their legal representatives must create an organisational account on the USCIS website.
Those who had an H-1B registrant account in FY 2021 – FY 2024 but did not use it in FY 2025 will have their existing account converted into an organizational account upon their next login.
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Submit electronic registration
Register each beneficiary separately using the USCIS online portal.
Ensure all required details are entered correctly for each applicant.
Pay the registration fee
The H-1B registration fee for FY 2026 is $215 (INR 18,650) per beneficiary.
Selections take place after the registration period ends: Employers do not need to rush to register on the first day, as selections are made after the registration period closes.
Selection notifications by March 31, 2025: USCIS will notify petitioners and representatives by this date if their registrations are selected.
Only selected registrants can proceed: If selected, the employer can then file the complete H-1B petition within the filing window.
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The H-1B visa serves as a vital pathway for skilled foreign professionals, especially in technology, healthcare, and finance, to secure employment in the United States. Given its high demand and limited availability, timely and precise registration is essential.
Employers seeking to hire foreign professionals for FY 2026 H-1B registration should prepare by creating USCIS accounts, gathering required documents, and staying updated on the selection timeline.
For further details, applicants can visit the official USCIS website.