On Friday March 7, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) opened H-1B visa lottery registrations for the 2026 fiscal year. Registration closes on March 24, 2025, and the visa selection will take place on or about April 1, 2025.
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require specialized knowledge (e.g. workers with a college degree or higher related to the offered job). The H-1B classification has an annual numerical limit (cap) of 65,000 new visas each fiscal year. An additional 20,000 visas are made available for beneficiaries with a master’s degrees from a U.S. institution of higher. Generally, the number of registrations filed with USCIS far exceeds the numerical cap. As such, USCIS uses a “lottery” system to select registrants who are then allowed to file a petition with USCIS.
H-1B work authorization is a great resource for employers to hire foreign nationals with a relevant higher education degree or qualifying equivalent work experience. In addition, it can allow employers to continue employment of foreign nationals currently working on a different work visa that may eventually expire—such as an F1 student visa. H-1B visas also have many advantages for employers who intend to seek an employment-based green card on behalf of an employee.
More information about the H-1B visa (and other employment-based temporary work visas) can be found here.
Mark K. Cameron and Amie Schoeppel Wilcox
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