USCIS announced on March 31, 2025, that it had received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year 2026 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption, also known as the master’s cap.
USCIS selected 118,660 beneficiaries, resulting in 120,141 selected registrations in the initial selection for the FY 2026 H-1B cap.
Most recently USCIS announced on July 18, 2025, that USCIS has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year 2026.
During the registration period for the FY 2026 H-1B cap, USCIS saw a significant decrease in the total number of registrations submitted and eligible beneficiaries compared to FY 2025, including a decrease in the number of registrations submitted on behalf of beneficiaries with multiple registrations.[1]
- The number of unique beneficiaries this year for FY 2026 (approximately 339,000) was comparable to the number last year for FY 2025 (approximately 442,000).
- The number of unique employers this year for FY 2026 (approximately 57,600) was also comparable to the number last year for FY 2025 (approximately 52,700).
- The number of eligible registrations was also dramatically lower for FY 2026 (343,981) compared with FY 2025 (470,342) — a 26.9% reduction.
- Overall, USCIS saw an average of 1.01 registrations per beneficiary this year for FY 2026, compared to 1.06 for FY 2025.
Employers who will be sponsoring foreign nationals for H-1B classification based upon selection in the FY 2027 H-1B visa lottery should consult with counsel to ensure timely preparation and submission of their H-1B registrations in March 2026. Gunster’s Immigration Practice Group remains available to assist with these processes and answer your questions.
Should you wish to receive further information concerning Immigration matters, please contact Gunster’s Immigration Law practice.
This publication is for general information only. It is not legal advice, and legal counsel should be contacted before any action is taken that might be influenced by this publication.
[1]The information herein is based upon a United States Citizenship and Immigration update on the H-1B Electronic Registration Process: H-1B Cap Electronic Registration Process. See H-1B Electronic Registration Process | USCIS
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This publication is for general information only. It is not legal advice, and legal counsel should be contacted before any action is taken that might be influenced by this publication.
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