Multiple employers can still register you — but it no longer multiplies your odds. Here's how the new system works and how to optimize your strategy.
The beneficiary-centric H-1B lottery selection rule fundamentally changed how registrations work. Under the old system, consulting firms gamed the lottery by submitting 3–4 registrations for the same worker through different entities, multiplying their chances. The new rule assigns one lottery slot per unique beneficiary (passport number), regardless of how many employers register them. Understanding this change is critical for anyone preparing for the April 2026 registration window.
Under the beneficiary-centric H-1B lottery, each unique individual (identified by passport number) gets exactly ONE entry in the lottery pool, regardless of how many employers register them. Multiple employers can still submit registrations — and if selected, all are notified and you choose which to proceed with — but having multiple registrations no longer improves your odds. This eliminated a major gaming strategy and improved selection rates for everyone.
| Company | H-1B Filings | Cap-Subject? |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 55,150 | Yes (direct hire) |
| Microsoft | 34,626 | Yes (direct hire) |
| 33,416 | Yes (direct hire) | |
| Infosys | 32,840 | Yes (placement model) |
| Tata Consultancy | 28,950 | Yes (placement model) |
| Cognizant | 26,700 | Yes (placement model) |
| Deloitte | 18,200 | Yes (direct hire) |
| Apple | 15,800 | Yes (direct hire) |
| Meta | 14,900 | Yes (direct hire) |
| JPMorgan Chase | 12,400 | Yes (direct hire) |
Before the beneficiary-centric rule, the H-1B lottery was employer-centric: USCIS selected from the full pool of registrations, not unique individuals. If three consulting firms each submitted a registration for the same worker, that worker had three lottery tickets. This was extensively exploited, with some firms openly advertising the "multiple registration" strategy.
USCIS implemented the beneficiary-centric approach by deduplicating the pool using passport numbers. Even if Amazon, Infosys, and a boutique firm all register the same candidate, that candidate appears once. If selected, all registering employers are notified and the beneficiary chooses which petition to proceed with. This restored fairness and meaningfully reduced total registration volume.
The strategic implication: quality of employer matters far more than quantity of registrations. Focus on securing a strong offer with an employer who has demonstrated H-1B compliance, successful petition history, and resources to handle RFEs — rather than gathering registrations from multiple marginal sponsors.
Search verified DOL data to identify employers with the strongest H-1B sponsorship track records — quality over quantity.
Search H-1B Sponsors →Search thousands of verified H-1B sponsors by company, industry, and location.
Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →No — under the beneficiary-centric system, your passport number is deduplicated. You receive exactly one entry regardless of how many employers register you. Having three registrations does not give three chances. What multiple registrations do provide is flexibility: if selected, all registering employers are notified and you choose which petition to proceed with. So it can be worth having 2–3 strong employers register you for flexibility, but don't chase volume as a lottery strategy.
It is legal for related entities to each submit a registration if they have a legitimate, distinct job offer — but USCIS now prohibits multiple registrations filed 'with intent to increase selection chances.' Registering through shell entities without genuine separate placements crosses into fraud territory. USCIS audits patterns from related entities. More importantly, it won't help your odds under the beneficiary-centric rule. Focus on 1–2 employers with genuine full-time offers.
Evaluate: (1) which employer has stronger financial standing and compliance history; (2) which offer has better terms (salary, role fit, long-term PERM commitment); (3) which has faster internal processes for petition filing; (4) which immigration attorney each uses. You're not legally obligated to proceed with any employer — only the filed petition activates your H-1B.
Yes, meaningfully. Before the rule, total FY2024 registrations exceeded 780,000 — artificially inflated by multiple registrations per person. After the rule took effect, unique beneficiary entries dropped significantly, mathematically improving the effective selection rate for genuine applicants. The consensus from immigration attorneys is that the rule disproportionately benefited workers with a single strong employer.