H1B Lottery Results 2025: Everything You Need to Know
The H1B visa lottery results for FY 2026 are highly anticipated, as lakhs of skilled professionals compete for just 85,000 spots. With new USCIS fraud prevention measures and increased fees, registrations are expected to drop compared to last year, but the process remains just as competitive.
In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know about recent H1B visa news: key lottery dates, how to check your H1B lottery results 2025 when they are released, our predictions for H-1B registrations, and what to do if you’re selected; or exploring other visa options. Whether you’re waiting for results or planning your next steps, this guide will help you stay informed and prepared.
What Is the H1B Visa?
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant work visa that allows U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations for an initial period of up to three years, extendable to a maximum of six years.
To qualify, applicants must meet the following H1B visa requirements:
- The job must be a specialty occupation requiring specialized knowledge.
- The employer must sponsor the visa by filing an H-1B petition with USCIS.
- The applicant must hold at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in a related field.
The H-1B visa cap is 85,000 visas per year, which includes:
- 65,000 visas under the regular cap.
- 20,000 additional visas for applicants with a U.S. master’s degree or higher (Master’s cap).
Since the number of applications far exceeds the available slots, USCIS conducts a lottery-based selection process for cap-subject petitions.
FY 2026 H-1B Lottery Process & Timeline
The H1B visa process begins with the initial registration phase. During this period, employers (or their attorneys) must electronically register each candidate they wish to sponsor through the USCIS online system. Once the registration window closes, USCIS conducts a random lottery to determine which candidates can proceed.
Key Updates for the FY 2026 H-1B Lottery:
- Registration Period: Opens March 7, 2025, at noon ET and closes March 24, 2025, at noon ET.
- New Registration Fee: The H-1B registration fee has increased to $215 per applicant.
- Beneficiary-Centric Process: For FY 2026, USCIS will continue the new beneficiary-centric selection process introduced in FY 2025. This means selections are based on unique beneficiaries, not multiple registrations—ensuring more transparency and better chances for genuine applicants!
- Lottery Selection: After registration closes, USCIS will conduct a random selection and notify selected applicants by March 31, 2025.
H-1B Lottery Results FY 2026 Predictions
H-1B registrations for FY 2026 are expected to decline due to stricter fraud measures and higher fees. However, demand remains strong, ensuring fierce competition for applicants.
Projected Range: 400,000 – 550,000 registrations.
While lower than FY 2025’s 780,884, the lottery will remain highly competitive as applications continue to far exceed the annual cap.
How to Check H-1B Lottery Results 2025?
USCIS will begin announcing the FY 2026 H-1B lottery results starting March 31, 2025, based on current H1B visa news. Applicants cannot check their results directly, as USCIS communicates the outcomes only to the employers or legal representatives who submitted the petitions. If you’ve applied, make sure to stay in touch with your employer or attorney for timely updates on your application status.
Selected in the H-1B Lottery? Here’s What’s Next!
Being selected in the H-1B FY 2026 lottery is just the first step. Now, your employer must file your H-1B petition with USCIS between April 1 and June 30, 2025 (dates may vary slightly).
What Happens Next?
- Employer Files H-1B Visa Application – Your employer submits Form I-129 with all required documents.
- LCA Approval – Before filing, they must get a Labor Condition Application (LCA) approved by the Department of Labor.
- USCIS Processing – Regular H1B visa processing time can take weeks to months, but premium processing (optional) guarantees a decision within 15 days.
If approved, your H-1B status becomes active on October 1, 2025—the official start of the FY 2026 cap season!
Conclusion
The H-1B lottery is highly competitive, and many talented students and professionals don’t get picked. If the H1B lottery results 2025 don’t favor you, don’t worry—there are still options to stay and work in the U.S.:
- F-1 Students: If you’re on OPT or STEM OPT, you may be able to continue working and reapply next year.
- Alternative Work Visas: Options like O-1 (extraordinary ability), L-1 (company transfer), or cap-exempt H1Bs may be available.
- Applying Again: You can try again in the FY 2027 lottery while exploring other visa pathways.
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Instead of relying on the H-1B lottery, high-achieving students and professionals can start building a strong EB-1A Green Card profile while still in school or early in their careers.
The Smart Green Card VIP Program helps ambitious individuals take control of their U.S. immigration future—without employer sponsorship or visa uncertainty.
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