The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially announced that it has received enough electronic registrations to meet the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 H-1B visa cap, including the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap).
USCIS has randomly selected the necessary number of unique beneficiaries from properly submitted registrations and has begun notifying prospective petitioners that they are eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition.
Please note that the H-1B visa route is a part of the US’s different work visa categories. This means someone who wants to come to the US for a specific job that is already planned can apply for this visa.
Initial Selection Numbers for FY 2026
A total of 118,660 unique beneficiaries were selected, leading to 120,141 registrations chosen in the initial selection round under the US H-1B route. Applications category-wise details are as follows:
| Applicants Category | FY 2026 |
| Unique Beneficiaries Selected | 118,660 |
| Total Selected Registrations | 120,141 |
| Number of Unique Employers | ~57,600 |
| Eligible Unique Beneficiaries | ~339,000 |
| Total Eligible Registrations | 343,981 |
| Average Registrations per Beneficiary | 1.01 |
Comparison with FY 2025 H-1B Registrations
USCIS noted a significant drop in both the number of total registrations and eligible beneficiaries for FY 2026 compared to FY 2025. Particularly notable is the decrease in multiple registrations for single beneficiaries, suggesting increased compliance and transparency.
| Category | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change (%) |
| Unique Employers | ~52,700 | ~57,600 | +9.3% |
| Eligible Unique Beneficiaries | ~442,000 | ~339,000 | -23.3% |
| Total Eligible Registrations | 470,342 | 343,981 | -26.9% |
| Avg. Registrations per Beneficiary | 1.06 | 1.01 | -4.7% |
Implications of the FY 2026 H-1B Update
This decline in duplicate and total registrations signals a more streamlined and efficient registration process, aligning with USCIS’s recent efforts to curb abuse and increase fairness in the H-1B lottery system. The nearly one-to-one ratio between beneficiaries and registrations indicates improved adherence to program rules.
What’s Next for Selected Applicants?
Employers with selected registrations will be able to file H-1B cap-subject petitions on behalf of their beneficiaries. Those not selected may explore other visa categories or prepare for the next H-1B cycle.