The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the initial registration date for the FY 2026 H-1B cap. During this period, the employers and their representatives must register each beneficiary electronically using a USCIS online account and pay the fees.

This article covers all important details to help employers prepare smoothly for the FY 2026 H-1B cap season.

H-1B Cap Season FY 2026: Updates and Details

H-1B visa allows employers to hire highly skilled foreign workers in specialty occupations such as tech and healthcare. The cap season is held in March every year and follows a lottery-based approach. It is crucial for businesses actively looking to hire skilled workers to bridge the skill gap in these industries since the demand often exceeds the supply.

Let’s look at all the essential information and changes introduced this season. These will help H-1B employers to prepare in advance.

Online Registration: Registration will begin on March 7, 2025, at noon Eastern and close on March 24, 2025, at noon Eastern.  

Fee Structure: The registration fee per beneficiary is $215.

Registration Process: Petitioners or their representatives must register for each beneficiary separately through a USCIS online account.

• Employers who do not have an online account must create an organizational account before the registration period.

• Employers with accounts for FY 2021-FY 2024 that were not used in FY 2025 will be automatically converted to organizational accounts upon the next login.

Beneficiary-Centric Selection Process: If registrations exceed the cap limit, then candidates will be selected randomly and notified by March 31, 2025. If registrations are below the cap, all proper applications will be selected.

Improved Financial Policies: To enhance the operational efficiency of registration process, the U.S. Department of Treasury has temporarily increased the daily credit card transaction limit for the FY 2026 H-1B cap payments.

Revised Limits:

• Daily Limit: $99,999.99
• ACH Transactions: Payments exceeding the daily card limit need to be processed via Automated Clearing House (ACH), and employers must contact their banks to avoid any transaction blocks.

Filing Eligibility After Selection: For selected petitioners, employers must submit Form I-129(H-1B petition) with other important documents, such as LCA, proof of a job offer, and the selected employee’s qualifications.

Note: H-1B cap-subject petitions for unselected beneficiaries will not be accepted. For more details, visit the USCIS page.

Enhancements to Organizational and Representative Accounts: To improve the registration process, USCIS has introduced features such as:  

• ‍Paralegal Flexibility: Paralegals can now collaborate with multiple legal representatives to manage H-1B registrations. ‍
• Simplified Legal Representative Workflow: Legal representatives can easily add paralegals to manage clients’ accounts. ‍
• Advanced Completion of Form I-129: To reduce errors, certain fields of Form I-129 will be automatically completed based on the selected registration data. ‍
• Batch Upload of Beneficiary Data: Employers can now use spreadsheets to upload beneficiary details.

Note: All these improvements will be available before March 7, 2025.  

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How Can Employers Prepare for FY 2026 H-1B Cap Season?

Employers need to follow a calm and well-planned approach for smooth registrations.  

Here are some actionable steps to follow:

• Prepare in Advance: Employers must gather all important documentation in advance and preview the rules carefully to reduce the risks of errors.  
• Plan for Payment: Employers must decide on their payment method and ensure the required funds are available.
• File Promptly for H-1B Cap-Subject: If your petition is selected, file for the H-1B Cap-subject petition as soon as possible to avoid delays and last-minute hassle.
• Save Essential Documentation: Maintain proper records of all the crucial documents such as filings and receipts.
• Consult With an Immigration Attorney: For accuracy and a personalized approach, consider consulting with an experienced attorney.   

Summing Up

The registration for the FY 2026 H-1B cap will open on March 7, 2025, at noon Eastern and close at noon Eastern on March 24, 2025. During this period, H-1B employers can submit the petition for beneficiaries and pay $215.

Employers need an online account for registration, and if they don’t have one, they must create one before March 7, 2025. Accounts used for FY 2021-2024 but not FY 2025 will be automatically converted to organizational accounts upon login.

Prepare seamlessly for the H-1B cap season with OnBlick. We offer comprehensive solutions to streamline your compliance efforts and facilitate the seamless processing of your H-1B petitions. You can schedule a demo to discover how our specialized H-1B case management services can support your needs.

We hope you will act swiftly to ensure a smooth H-1B cap-subject petition process for FY 2026.

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