Takeaways

• The initial drawing includes registrants under both the 65,000 regular cap and the 20,000 master’s cap.
• Employers and attorneys have been notified of selection results through their myUSCIS accounts.
• H-1B petitions must be filed between 04.01.25 and 06.30.25 to use the cap selection.

USCIS announced on Mar. 31, 2025, that it has completed the initial selection process for H-1B visa cap-subject petitions for fiscal year 2026. The statutory cap is 65,000 H-1B visas (regular cap), with an additional 20,000 visas for foreign professionals with an advanced degree from a U.S. academic institution (master’s cap).

What This Means for Employers

Registrations marked “Selected” in the myUSCIS account may move forward to H-1B petition filing.

Only the petitioning employer may file an H-1B petition on behalf of a selected registrant. The filing window is open from April 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025, for H-1B employment beginning Oct. 1, 2025, the start of the government’s new fiscal year.

USCIS typically prioritizes adjudication of cap-subject H-1B petitions during the summer, so early and complete filing is strongly encouraged to ensure timely processing.

Next Steps

• Only the employer or authorized attorney of record can view selection results by checking their myUSCIS account.
• Work with a Jackson Lewis attorney to prepare and file H-1B petitions for selected individuals.
• Assess the organization’s foreign national workforce:
  • For selected individuals in the United States, ensure foreign nationals take proper steps to “bridge the gap,” where needed, to maintain continuity of work authorization until H-1B status begins.
    • See our blog on updates to cap-gap for F-1 students.
  • For selected individuals outside the United States, review the Department of State’s Visa Appointment Wait Times and procedures to make sure the individual begins planning for their visa stamping appointment.
  • For non-selected individuals, explore alternative options, including:
    • O-1 visas for those with extraordinary ability
    • L-1 intracompany transfers
    • STEM OPT or F-1 cap-gap extensions
    • J-1 visas for scholars and specialists
    • Concurrent H-1B employment with a cap-exempt institution

Looking Ahead

Lottery selection is just the first step. Completed H-1B petitions must be filed for USCIS review and adjudication. As in previous years, all H-1B Cap Registrations remain in consideration until the H-1B annual statutory cap is reached. If USCIS does not receive enough H-1B petitions to fulfill their annual cap, it may conduct a second selection round, likely in August.