Your Submitted status stays active until September 30 — but it is increasingly unlikely to turn into a selection.
If your H-1B registration status still reads Submitted as of April 2026, you are in limbo. The FY2027 initial selection is complete, but your registration remains marked Submitted rather than Not Selected. This is intentional: USCIS keeps registrations active through the end of the fiscal year in case a second round is needed. This guide explains what the status means, when to officially give up, and how to transition to FY2028 planning.
| Status Meaning | Action Possible | Expiration |
|---|---|---|
| Submitted | Wait for second round | September 30, 2026 |
| Selected | File I-129 by June 30 | June 30, 2026 |
| Not Selected | Prepare FY2028 | N/A |
| Denied | Refund request | N/A |
Information Gain: Submitted status does not mean your application is being actively evaluated. USCIS runs selections as a one-time lottery and maintains non-selected registrations in a pool from which they can draw if needed. Second round draws in FY2025 happened in early August, and candidates went from Submitted to Selected within 48 hours without advance notification.
Pro Tip: Submitted status is not a reason to delay plan B. Begin your FY2028 preparation immediately: update resume, identify new sponsors, explore cap-exempt roles, and consider O-1 eligibility.
The practical deadline for giving up on Submitted status is July 15, 2026. By this date, USCIS typically knows whether a second round is needed. If no announcement has been made by mid-July, the probability drops below 5%.
Alternatives to pursue: cap-exempt H-1B at universities or nonprofits, O-1 extraordinary ability petitions, L-1 intracompany transfer, or TN for Canadian and Mexican citizens.
FY2028 registration opens in March 2027. Your current Submitted status has no carryover benefit for FY2028.
Find sponsors who will register you for next year's lottery.
Find FY2028 SponsorsSearch thousands of verified H-1B sponsors by company, industry, and location.
Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →Submitted means you were not selected in the initial round but your registration remains active as a placeholder in case USCIS runs a second lottery. It is not under evaluation. It simply sits in a pool through September 30, 2026. Status changes instantly without notice if selected in a second round.
Practical deadline is July 15, 2026. By mid-July USCIS typically knows whether a second round will happen. If no announcement is made by then, second round probability drops below 5%. Reallocate to FY2028 planning and alternatives at that point.
No. Submitted status has no maintenance cost and does not block you from pursuing O-1, L-1, TN, or cap-exempt H-1B petitions simultaneously. It is fully passive. You can and should pursue alternative paths while waiting for a potential second round draw.
USCIS grants a fresh 90-day filing window from the date your status changes to Selected. If the second round is announced August 15, 2026, your 90-day window runs through approximately November 13, 2026 with the same Form I-129 and LCA requirements.