The US Office of Citizenship (USCIS) has begun releasing the results of the fiscal year (FY) 2026 H-1B Visa Lottery. Applicants can check their selection status through the employer, legal representative, or through the USCIS online portal.
Also Read: Here's how to check US H-1B Visa status
If the status indicates “selected”, the applicant will complete the lottery stage, and the next step is for the employer to file an H-1B petition on their behalf. If the status remains “Submitted”, the application is still in the lottery pool. Final status updates are expected by April 1, 2025. If not changed to “selection”, it means that the applicant was not selected in this round.
The H-1B registration process for 2026 was open from March 7th to March 24th, 2025. During this period, US employers registered skilled foreign workers in sectors such as information technology, healthcare and engineering. A major change this year was the increase in H-1B registration fees from $10 to $215 per beneficiary. USCIS said 2050% hikes aim to cover management costs and reduce critical applications.
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USCIS also introduces procedural updates to streamline the selection process and ensure fairness in visa allocation. These updates are intended to address multiple registration concerns and increase the likelihood that legitimate applicants will secure an H-1B visa.
Meanwhile, US State Department data shows a sharp increase in student visa denials. An analysis by the Indian Express revealed that 41% of international student visa applications were rejected in the previous fiscal year (October 2023 to September 2024). This represents a significant increase compared to 2014, when the rejection rate was almost half the current percentage.
Applicants awaiting the results of the H-1B lottery are encouraged to continue updating as USCIS continues to release selection notifications in batches.
