Home/Work visas/H-1B/FY 2026 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 7

FY 2026 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 7

CategoriesH-1B
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High impact
USCIS
Lottery / selection
Summary

Informational only, not legal advice. Confirm deadlines on the official notice or with a qualified professional.

USCIS has announced that H-1B cap initial registration for fiscal year 2026 will open on March 7, 2025 at noon Eastern and close on March 24, 2025 at noon Eastern. Employers and beneficiaries seeking H-1B work visas must register during this window to participate in the annual lottery selection. This is the first critical deadline for the FY2026 H-1B cap season.
Full official notice
USCIS

Authoritative text and filing details are always on the publisher’s site.

Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2026 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 7 and run through noon Eastern on March 24, 2025.

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