FY2026 H-1B Cap Registration: What You Need to Know

February 10, 2025

Melany Savitt, Alan Perkins, Corinne Zycherman Brooks, and Melina LaMorticella - Tonkon Torp LLP

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H-1B registrations for the FY2026 cap season will open at noon ET on March 7, 2025, and run through noon ET on March 24, 2025. The USCIS filing fee is $215 per registration this year (a significant increase from $10).

Feel free to contact us soon so we can help you evaluate your H-1B needs for this cap season.

Registration Details
Registration requires basic employer and foreign national data including whether the foreign national holds a U.S. advanced degree. Only one registration per employer/individual beneficiary combination is permitted. If there are more registrations than available under the annual H-1B quota, USCIS will conduct a random lottery selection after registration closes. Employers can then prepare and file H-1B petitions only for registrations selected in the lottery.

Post-Registration Period
The lottery will be held shortly after registration closes, and USCIS will notify those selected by March 31.  If selected in the lottery, employers will have 90 days to file an H-1B petition starting April 1, 2025.

Additional wait list registration selections may occur throughout the year until the quota is reached for the fiscal year.

Next Steps
We recommend employers review hiring needs as soon as possible to determine if new H-1B petitions will need to be filed under the FY2026 cap for employment start dates no earlier than October 1, 2025. We recommend considering the following example classifications and scenarios:

• Foreign national F-1 and J-1 students
• TN USMCA professionals
• L-1B specialized knowledge transferees
• E-3 Australian specialty occupation professionals
• Individuals with certain types of employment authorization documents (EADs)
• Prospective employees outside the United States with no other option for U.S. work authorization

H-1B Annual Quota Details
All “new” H-1B petitions are subject to an annual quota, or cap of 65,000 regular H-1B visas, and an additional 20,000 H-1B visas reserved for holders of advanced degrees (master’s or higher) from accredited U.S. universities. New cap H-1B petitions are generally required for individuals previously not counted against the cap (with limited exceptions).

New cap H-1B petitions are not required for H-1B extensions and most H-1B changes of employer.

This client alert is prepared for the general information of our clients and friends. It should not be regarded as legal advice. If you have any questions regarding this update, or for more information about this topic, please contact any of the attorneys in our Business Immigration Practice Group, or the attorney with whom you normally consult.

About Tonkon Torp
Tonkon Torp LLP is a leading business and litigation law firm serving public companies, substantial private enterprises, entrepreneurial businesses, and individuals throughout the Northwest. Tonkon Torp is celebrating its 50th year in business! See our History Timeline for more information, or visit tonkon.com.