Up-to-date statistics on the FY2026 H-1B lottery including registration numbers, selection rates, and cap utilization.
The H-1B visa program is subject to an annual numerical cap that limits how many new H-1B workers can begin employment each fiscal year. Understanding the cap count, registration volume, and selection odds is essential for employers and prospective H-1B workers planning their immigration strategy for FY2026.
The annual H-1B cap consists of 65,000 regular cap visas available to all qualifying employers, plus an additional 20,000 visas reserved for beneficiaries who hold a U.S. master's degree or higher (the "advanced degree exemption"). This creates a total of 85,000 cap-subject H-1B visas available each fiscal year. The FY2026 cap applies to employment starting October 1, 2025, with the registration period having opened in March 2025.
The electronic registration system, introduced in FY2021, has made it easier for employers to enter the lottery but has also led to dramatically higher registration volumes. In FY2025, USCIS received approximately 470,000 eligible registrations for the 85,000 available slots, resulting in an initial selection rate of roughly 18%. For FY2026, USCIS implemented a beneficiary-centric selection process designed to give each unique individual one chance of selection regardless of how many employers register them, aiming to reduce duplicate registrations and improve fairness.
Starting with FY2025, USCIS transitioned to selecting registrations by unique beneficiary rather than by registration. Under this system, each individual beneficiary has one chance of selection regardless of whether one employer or ten employers submit registrations on their behalf. This change was implemented to address concerns about multiple registrations inflating demand and reducing selection odds for individuals with only one registration. Early data suggests the reform has reduced the total number of registrations while maintaining overall demand for H-1B workers.
Not all H-1B employment counts against the annual cap. The following categories are cap-exempt and can be filed at any time during the year:
Additionally, workers who have previously been counted against the cap and are seeking an extension, transfer, or amendment do not count against the cap again. This means cap-exempt pathways are an important alternative for workers who are not selected in the lottery.
If a registration is not selected in the initial lottery, USCIS may conduct additional selection rounds if not enough selected registrations result in filed petitions. In past years, USCIS has conducted two or three additional rounds. Workers not selected have several alternatives: pursuing cap-exempt employment at a qualifying institution, extending OPT or STEM OPT if eligible, considering O-1 visa classification for individuals with extraordinary ability, or exploring other work visa categories like the L-1 or TN visa if eligible.
The H-1B cap has remained at 65,000 plus 20,000 since 2006. However, demand has grown significantly. FY2024 saw approximately 780,000 registrations (before the beneficiary-centric change), FY2025 saw approximately 470,000, and FY2026 numbers continued at elevated levels. The gap between supply and demand underscores the competitive nature of the H-1B program and the importance of having backup immigration strategies.
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Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →The FY2026 H-1B cap is 65,000 for the regular cap plus 20,000 for the U.S. master's degree exemption, totaling 85,000 cap-subject visas. These numbers have remained unchanged since 2006. Note that 6,800 of the 65,000 regular cap visas are reserved for nationals of Chile and Singapore under free trade agreements, though unused visas roll back into the general pool.
The exact FY2026 selection rate depends on the total number of eligible registrations received. Based on recent trends, the initial selection rate has been in the range of 18-25% after the beneficiary-centric system was implemented. USCIS may conduct additional selection rounds throughout the year if initial selections do not result in enough filed petitions to fill the cap.
Under the beneficiary-centric system, USCIS assigns each unique beneficiary one entry in the lottery regardless of how many employers submit registrations for them. Previously, each registration was a separate lottery entry, meaning a person with five registrations had five chances of selection. The new system gives every individual an equal probability of selection, reducing the advantage of multiple registrations.
Yes, there are several paths. USCIS may conduct additional lottery rounds later in the fiscal year. You may also pursue cap-exempt H-1B employment at universities, nonprofit research organizations, or affiliated entities. Other alternatives include the O-1 visa for extraordinary ability, L-1 intracompany transfer, TN visa for Canadian or Mexican nationals, or extending OPT/STEM OPT status while reattempting the lottery the following year.