The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the registration period for the fiscal year (FY) 2026 H-1B visa cap will begin on 7 March 2025 and end on 24 March 2025. Employers must register beneficiaries electronically through USCIS online accounts and pay a $215 fee per applicant. The beneficiary-centric selection process introduced in FY 2025 will continue, and results will be available by 31 March 2025.

USCIS online account requirement

Employers and representatives must use a USCIS online account to register applicants. Those with H-1B registrant accounts from FY 2021 to FY 2024 but who did not participate in FY 2025 will have their accounts converted to organisational accounts. First-time registrants can create accounts at any time. Step-by-step video guides and additional resources will be available on the USCIS website before the registration period opens.

Read also: Six U.S. work visa options as H-1B rejections rise

Process for representatives and registrants

Representatives can add clients to their accounts at any time, but beneficiary information and payment submission can only begin on 7 March. USCIS will conduct the selection process after the registration period ends, with no advantage for early submissions.

Beneficiary-centric selection process

The selection process will be based on unique beneficiaries rather than individual registrations. If USCIS receives sufficient unique beneficiary registrations by 24 March, a random selection will take place. Notifications will be sent through USCIS online accounts by 31 March.

Read also: Top 10 U.S. companies with most H-1B visa approvals

Temporary increase in credit card limit

To manage high registration volumes, the US Department of Treasury has temporarily raised the daily credit card transaction limit from $24,999.99 to $99,999.99 for the FY 2026 H-1B cap season. Employers making larger payments can use Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions and should confirm with their banks that no ACH blocks are in place.

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Eligibility and filing requirements

Only selected petitioners may file cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption. The job must require specialised knowledge and at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Employers must submit a Labour Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labour to confirm compliance with wage and working conditions.

Read also: Here are top 15 H-1B visa sponsors and approval numbers

Organisational account enhancements

For FY 2026, USCIS has introduced enhancements to organisational and representative accounts, including:

  • Paralegals can collaborate with multiple legal representatives to prepare H-1B registrations, Form I-129 petitions, and Form I-907 requests for premium processing.
  • Legal representatives can add paralegals to company accounts.
  • Pre-population of select Form I-129 fields from chosen H-1B registrations.
  • A new feature for bulk uploads of H-1B beneficiary data via spreadsheet.

Read also: Here’s how to check your US H-1B visa status

These improvements aim to streamline the registration and petition process ahead of the FY 2026 registration period.

For further details, prospective applicants and employers are encouraged to visit the official USCIS website or seek legal advice.

Chisom Michael is a data analyst (audience engagement) and writer at BusinessDay, with diverse experience in the media industry. He holds a BSc in Industrial Physics from Imo State University and an MEng in Computer Science and Technology from Liaoning Univerisity of Technology China. He specialises in listicle writing, profiles and leveraging his skills in audience engagement analysis and data-driven insights to create compelling content that resonates with readers.

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