📰New FY2026 H-1B e-Registration Period Will Begin in Approximately 1 Month

The annual H-1B e-Registration period (the “H-1B Lottery”) will be opening in approximately 1 month (at the beginning of March 2025). As a reminder, the USCIS announced changes to the H-1B lottery process several years ago, including how the lottery is conducted. Pursuant to this new USCIS process, the H-1B lottery is first conducted electronically, followed by the submission of an H-1B petition for only lottery winners.

To be eligible for the lottery, the process requires H-1B petitioners to register potential H-1B cases prior to the submission of an H-1B filing. Immediately after this registration period closes, the USCIS will conduct the lottery. Once the lottery winners are announced and notified via email, the petitioner shall have ninety (90) days to submit the completed H-1B petition to the USCIS.

Several notes about last year’s lottery based on the H--1B “modernization” rule enacted by the USCIS in 2024.

• The H-1B “modernization” rule implemented measures designed to reduce the potential for misuse of the H-1B lottery system, including restricting multiple registrations and “shell” companies using the program. This news was welcomed by all legitimate users of the H-1B program, and lead to a greater chance of success for H-1B lottery registrants since there was a significant decrease in registration numbers for last year’s lottery (indicative that these investigations and the beneficiary-centric selection process were effective integrity measures).

• The registration fee for each lottery case has increased from $10 to $215 for FY2026 and beyond.

• The new H-1B rule, effective January 17, 2025, will be in effect for this year’s H-1B cap cases: https://www.ggw.com/post/new-h-1b-modernization-rule-goes-into-effect-on-january-17-2025-key-information-and-takeaways

A reminder to please let us know of any candidates you wish to sponsor for this lottery so we can send you an email with what is required accordingly, which will then allow GG&W to review the case in greater detail prior to the e-registration deadline.