Update February 14, 2025: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2026 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 7, 2025, and run through noon Eastern on March 24, 2025. For any questions, please contact your Varnum immigration attorney.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has not yet announced dates, but the annual electronic registration process for H-1B cap-subject petitions should open in March 2025. The USCIS registration fee is now $215. USCIS will select by random lottery process 85,000 petitions for the H-1B cap (65,000 for the general category and 20,000 for the U.S. advanced degree category). Applicants selected should be notified by March 31 and will have until June 30 to submit the H-1B petition.
Varnum’s immigration attorneys have started to collect information to prepare for the March registration period. Employers with employees on F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) or candidates requiring cap-subject H-1Bs should contact us to prepare for the registration.