ANNUAL H-1B CAP LOTTERY
REGISTRATION FOR FY2026 EMPLOYERS URGED TO TAKE EARLY
ACTION
The USCIS FY2026 H-1B cap-subject lottery will be held
in March 2025. The OGC Immigration Team requests that you provide
us with all of your H-1B cap nominations by February 7, 2025,
if you have not already done so.
U.S. businesses rely on the H-1B visa program to temporarily
employ professional foreign workers in specialty occupations that
require theoretical or technical expertise that is normally
associated with the attainment of at least a bachelor's
degree in a specialty field related to the occupation. USCIS
approves up to 85,000 H-1B cap-subject petitions each year, out of
which 20,000 are reserved for individuals who have earned a U.S.
Master's or higher degree. Since 2014, USCIS has received
well over 85,000 H-1B cap requests each year and, consequently, has
resorted to a lottery system for allocating approvals.
