US Immigration Law Firm News Update: FY 2026 H-1B Cap Registration – Key Dates & Important Updates

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially announced the initial registration period for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 H-1B cap. Below are the key highlights and updates that employers and prospective petitioners must note.

H-1B Registration Timeline

• Opening Date: March 7, 2025, at 12:00 PM (Eastern Time)
• Closing Date: March 24, 2025, at 12:00 PM (Eastern Time)
• During this window, all H-1B registrations must be submitted electronically via a USCIS online account along with the required registration fee.

Registration Process & Fees

• Electronic Registration Required: All petitioners must register their beneficiaries using a USCIS online account.
• Registration Fee: $215 per beneficiary.
• New Organizational Account Requirement:
• First-time registrants must create a USCIS organizational account before submitting a registration.
• If you had an H-1B registrant account from FY 2021–FY 2024 but did not use it in FY 2025, it will be converted into an organizational account upon your next login.
• For step-by-step guidance, refer to USCIS’s Organizational Accounts FAQs, which will be updated before the registration period begins.

Beneficiary-Centric Selection Process

USCIS will continue with the beneficiary-centric selection process introduced in FY 2025:

• Selections are based on unique beneficiaries rather than individual registrations.
• If enough registrations are received by March 24, 2025, USCIS will conduct a random selection of unique beneficiaries.
• Selection notifications will be sent via USCIS online accounts by March 31, 2025.

Payment Updates: Increased Credit Card Limit

• The U.S. Department of Treasury has temporarily increased the daily credit card transaction limit for H-1B registration payments:
• New Limit: $99,999.99 per day (previously $24,999.99).
• For payments exceeding this limit, ACH (Automated Clearing House) transactions remain available. However, some banks may require prior authorization for ACH payments.

Final Steps & Next Actions

• H-1B petitions can only be filed by petitioners whose registrations are selected in the lottery.
• More details on electronic registration can be found on the USCIS H-1B Electronic Registration Process page.
• Employers and petitioners planning to file an H-1B cap petition should start preparations early, including setting up USCIS accounts, gathering necessary documentation, and ensuring compliance with registration deadlines.

Stay tuned for further updates and insights!