The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has commenced the announcement of results for the H-1B visa lottery for the fiscal year 2026.
How to Check Your Status
Applicants can verify their selection status through their employer, legal representative, or by accessing the USCIS online portal.
Understanding Your Lottery Outcome
Selected: If marked “Selected,” you have passed the lottery stage. The next steps include submitting a complete petition, ensuring all required documents are in place, and preparing for any possible USCIS requests for additional evidence.
Submitted: If your status remains “Submitted,” your application is still under consideration in the lottery pool, and further updates may follow.
Not Selected: If your status has not changed to “Selected” by April 1, 2025, it means you were not chosen in this round.
For those not selected, alternative visa options include the O-1 visa for individuals with extraordinary abilities or the L-1 visa for intracompany transfers.
Key Details of the H-1B Registration Process
The H-1B registration period for FY 2026 ran from March 7 to March 24, 2025, during which U.S. employers submitted electronic applications for professionals in specialized fields such as technology, healthcare, and engineering.
This year, the H-1B registration fee rose significantly from $10 to $215 per beneficiary to cover administrative costs and discourage non-serious applications. USCIS also introduced procedural changes aimed at enhancing fairness and transparency in the selection process.
Increase in Student Visa Denials
Recent data from the U.S. State Department shows a sharp rise in international student visa denials. In the last fiscal year (October 2023–September 2024), 41% of applications were rejected—a significant jump from the 2014 fiscal year when the rejection rate was nearly half of the current figure.
Applicants awaiting H-1B lottery results should remain vigilant, as USCIS is releasing selection notifications in phases.