The USCIS has started releasing the H-1B visa lottery results for the fiscal year 2026. The wait is officially over for various people who have applied for the H-1B visa lottery, and results are out, with notifications rolling out in phases, according to Richards & Jurusik Immigration Law.
Applicants can check their H-1B Visa Lottery results using the official web portal of the USCIS through their employer or legal representatives.
H-1B Visa Lottery Results 2025
The H-1B visa is one of the most expected and applicable visas for people who want to work and seek a professional career in the United States of America. The career options under the H-1B visa are information technology, engineering, hospitality, and research.
For the H-1B visa lottery results, the registration window opened on 7 March 2025 and closed on 24 March 2025. During this period, US companies filed entries of foreign talents in high-demand sectors, which are also mentioned.
H-1B Visa Registration Fee Increase for 2025
This year, the H-1B visa session has an effective change: a steep increase in the registration fee. The fee increased from $10 to $215 per beneficiary, marking a staggering 2025% jump for the applicants.
Candidates need to submit the nonrefundable fee during the registration process. This is part of a broader move by the USCIS to cover the “cost of administration and reduce the non-serious applications.”
New H-1B Visa Selection Process and Rules
Along with the new fee structure changes, the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) has rolled out the latest selection process, which took effect on 20 March 2025 for all applicants for H-1B visas. The agency has introduced a beneficiary-centric model, where a person can enter the lottery system only once, no matter how many employers wish to sponsor them.
This significant change eliminates duplicate entries in the lottery system. It will also offer a fair selection landscape to individuals applying for the H-1B visa. Candidates can visit the official website for more details regarding the selection process.
The system has now been updated to include electronic registration for employers, mandating that they fill out online submissions before they can file complete petitions. This indicates that rather than using the traditional paper method, employers must first register electronically via the platform provided before they can submit the necessary documents for processing.
H-1B Visa Lottery Results: Selected and Non-Selected Candidates
Candidates selected in the H-1B visa lottery results can move swiftly in the selection process. A “Selected” status on your online portal means that the applicant has cleared the lottery phase of the selection.
Such candidates must submit a full H-1B petition with complete documentation between 1 April 2025 and 30 June 2025. For the candidates not selected in the H-1B visa lottery results, many alternative pathways, such as Day 1 CPT or employer-sponsored green cards, will remain options.
Many immigration attorneys can help such candidates identify viable routes based on the individual’s circumstances. They are advised not to lose hope, choose another option to get the visa and stay connected with official websites for other updates.
H-1B Visa Lottery Results in Top Sponsors
Large global companies like Amazon, Google, Infosys, and Microsoft are still some of the biggest benefactors of H-1B visas, a long-established practice of bringing in highly skilled foreign workers.
Companies have always used the H-1B program to hire the best and brightest professionals, especially in technology and engineering, to work hard to fill jobs demanding specialized knowledge.
Their continued enrollment in the program underscores the need for international talent for competitiveness and innovation in the US economy.
FAQs
What is the timeframe for the selected candidates to submit a full H-1B petition and complete documentation?
1 April 2025 & 30 June 2025.
What is a beneficiary-centric model?
It is a model that claims that applicants can only register for the lottery once to provide a fair selection landscape.
How much of an increase in registration fees happened in 2025?
From $10 to $215 must be submitted during the registration process.