USCIS began posting the results of the FY2026 H-1B cap registration period today. Here are the answers to a few common questions we receive about the H-1B lottery selection process.
It typically takes a few days for the initial selection notifications to be completed. It is expected that all initial selections will be noted in the online system by Monday, March 31st. Notifications do not typically appear simultaneously for all registrants.
USCIS posts selection notices in the employer’s myUSCIS account—the same account used to submit the registration. Beneficiaries do not have independent access to their registration status. Instead, sponsoring employers and their legal representatives are responsible for monitoring their accounts and informing beneficiaries of their selection status. If selected, the employer may download and share a copy of the selection notice with the beneficiary.
Not necessarily. If a beneficiary is selected in the initial round, the registration status in myUSCIS will change to Selected. Registrations not selected will remain in Submitted status after March 31.
In recent years, USCIS has conducted additional lottery selections later in the year if there are insufficient H-1B petition filings to meet the annual cap of 85,000. These additional selection rounds have typically occurred in late July and November.
Employers do not need to take any further action to be considered for later rounds. USCIS will automatically select from the pool of previously submitted registrations. Once the cap is reached, USCIS will update remaining unselected cases to Not Selected status.
If selected, the employer may file an H-1B petition (Form I-129) on behalf of the beneficiary between April 1 and June 30. For beneficiaries currently in F-1 status with an OPT EAD expiring before June 30, the filing deadline is effectively the EAD expiration date to qualify for the cap-gap extension.
If a beneficiary is not selected in the initial lottery, there is a possibility of being selected in a later round. However, additional selections are not guaranteed. Beneficiaries who do not receive a selection notice by March 31 should begin considering alternative immigration options in case they are not selected in future rounds. If you would like our assistance in exploring different options available to you, please contact our office here.
One of the requirements for becoming a U.S. citizen through naturalization is demonstrating “good moral character,” often referred to as GMC. USCIS does not…
On June 30, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an important decision protecting birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment. The Court held that children…
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has made an important change for religious workers in R-1 nonimmigrant status who reach the five-year maximum period…
I had the pleasure of working with Marta Delgado for my immigration petition. From the moment I met with Marta, I felt confident she was the attorney I was looking for after many years of waiting. I was so nervous going into this process, but Marta walked me through the details more than once, giving me so much peace about...
What a wonderful experience I had with Elizabeth and her team. Her professionalism made me feel at ease and comfortable throughout the process we went through. Thank you so much, Elizabeth!
I went through my Green Card and Citizenship applications with Elizabeth Rompf and every step of the way was fantastic. Incredibly professional, prompt, clear, and very attentive to details. I cannot recommend them enough! They're my absolute top pick for any immigration recommendations!
DRB helped us with securing a work visa for one of our staff members, communicated well, and helped explain the process.
I am full of gratitude while writing this review for Delgado Rompf Bruen Law. Thank you so much Marta for handling my case so beautifully. It has been only your diligence and professionalism in the work which guided my case to success. I am very fortunate to have you as an attorney. With other attorneys I've experienced ones who only...
Elizabeth and her legal team were extremely helpful in my husband's green card case. They had us so prepared that the interview was a piece of cake. We didn't have a single issue. They were quick to reply to any questions we had and were very honest with us about any possible issues we could have. I would highly recommend...
I began working with Martha after a decade of having my immigration process handled by attorneys that worked for my employers and everything changed immediately. Martha was invested in my personal story and circumstances and took all the time I needed to talk me through the options and process. She was consistently professional, knowledgable, and compassionate. She even leveraged her...
I've struggle for over 10 years to get my Permanent Resident status and have been represented by 4 immigration lawyers over that period. The last one I hired and who was able to resolve my immigration case is Elizabeth Rompf Bruen. The contrast of how she handled my case and the other 3 lawyers was obvious from the beginning. She...
Marta was the most professional, accurate and caring lawyer I’ve encountered in the 6 years I’ve been living in the US, her work ethics are unmatched and without doubt was the best decision for my process. I recommend her to anyone that needs help, you will feel listened and she is incredible when it comes to explaining this procedures in...
Elizabeth has been my immigration attorney on multiple cases. She handled my 3 different cases over past 7 years including the recent immigration case that got approval last month. Whenever I need attorney help, the only person I reach out to is Elizabeth. She is knowledgeable and very professional in handling any case. Elizabeth always kept me informed about the...
"*" indicates required fields
