H-1B Lottery Applications Fall Again, Marking a Shift in USCIS Trends

Key Takeaways

• H-1B Lottery entries dropped 27% for FY 2026, totaling 343,981 eligible registrations according to USCIS.
• USCIS’s new beneficiary-centric rule reduced multiple registrations: only 7,828 individuals had duplicates, down from 47,314 prior year.
• Selection odds remain tough despite fewer entries; only about 85,000 H-1B visas available annually, leaving most applicants unselected.

For the second year in a row, the H-1B Lottery has seen a sharp fall in the number of people applying, according to figures shared by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for the upcoming Fiscal Year. This continued decline marks a big change in how U.S. companies are hiring foreign professionals and how the government is handling the process. If you are an employer, a skilled worker, or someone who follows immigration trends, these changes might affect your plans and expectations.

Sharp Drop in H-1B Lottery Entries

The H-1B Lottery is the system the United States 🇺🇸 uses to choose skilled foreign workers, especially for jobs that require a college degree in areas like technology, engineering, and healthcare. Every spring, employers submit registrations on behalf of candidates, hoping they will be selected for one of the visas available under the congressionally set cap. In recent years, the number of entries soared, but according to USCIS data, this pattern has reversed.

• For Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, USCIS received about 470,342 eligible H-1B registrations. That was a big drop from 758,994 in Fiscal Year 2024.
• For FY 2026, the downward trend continued. Only about 343,981 valid H-1B Lottery registrations were received. This is about 27% fewer than the previous year.
• The number of unique individuals applying also dropped: just 336,000 candidates in FY 2026, compared to around 423,000 in FY 2025.

To put these numbers in perspective, here’s a simple breakdown:

The drop in both total entries and unique applicants is the steepest in many years, and it raises important questions for everyone involved.

Why Are H-1B Lottery Applications Falling?

The big reason behind this fall is a new step taken by USCIS to stop people and companies from gaming the system. In the past, several companies would often submit separate H-1B Lottery entries for the same person. This meant one candidate could have many “chances” to be selected, making things unfair for those who had only one company supporting them.

To fix this, USCIS introduced a “beneficiary-centric” system for the H-1B Lottery. Now, each applicant can only have their name entered once, no matter how many companies want to hire them. This was a change from the old way, where it cost very little for different employers to submit entries for the same job-seeker.

This stricter approach quickly changed the numbers:

• The average number of H-1B Lottery entries per person dropped from about 1.70 in FY 2024, to 1.06 in FY 2025, and down further to 1.01 in FY 2026.
• The number of people with more than one entry was also much lower: just about 7,828 beneficiaries in FY 2026 had multiple registrations, compared to over 47,314 the year before.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, USCIS credits these changes with restoring fairness to the process and stopping actions that took advantage of the rules. The agency has said that these steps have brought much-needed honesty and balance to the system, making it fairer for everyone involved. This shows up clearly in the numbers—the possibility of getting an unfair advantage has dropped a lot compared to earlier years.

Understanding How the H-1B Lottery Works

Even though the H-1B Lottery is still the main way for many skilled foreign workers to enter the U.S. job market, not everyone understands how the system works. Each year, thousands of companies take part. They must register their chosen candidates online with USCIS during a set period, usually in March. If the number of registrations is more than the yearly cap (often 85,000 visas), USCIS holds the lottery to pick who moves forward.

Before the recent reforms, many companies would send in extra registrations hoping to boost a candidate’s odds. This led to a huge jump in total entries, but not always in the number of real people applying. Sometimes, one person could be counted many times, which skewed the numbers.

With the “beneficiary-centric” change, the process now focuses more on the individual—making sure each person gets only one shot at being picked, no matter how many companies are interested in them. This results in cleaner data, fewer duplicate filings, and a process that better matches real demand for foreign workers.

Competition for H-1B Lottery Remains Tight

One might think that with fewer entries, it would be much easier to get chosen for an H-1B visa. However, the odds remain tough. For FY 2025, USCIS picked about 120,603 registrations in the initial round. This meant the selection rate was between 25% and 28%, still leaving the majority out. In the end, only about 85,000 visas are available each year. This figure is set by Congress and does not change, regardless of how many people apply.

So, even with the lower number of total H-1B Lottery submissions, the competition stays very strong. Many applicants and their employers still hope each year for a lucky break that will allow them to move forward with their plans.

Reforms Lead to Fewer Duplicate Filings and More Trust

The H-1B Lottery process has a long history of people and companies finding ways around its rules. For example, in earlier years, as many as 47,314 people had more than one registration for the same lottery. USCIS says this led to a false look of demand, as many of those entries were duplicates.

By 2026, this number dropped to just 7,828 beneficiaries who had more than one registration from different employers. The striking fall in repeat entries is seen as proof that the new system is working. According to USCIS, there were “far fewer attempts to gain an unfair advantage than in prior years.”

Employers have had to adjust to these stricter rules. Now, they must pick carefully which candidates they choose to support through the H-1B Lottery, knowing that only one entry per person is allowed. This helps ensure the process rewards true job offers instead of those based on increasing odds through duplicates.

Key Impacts for Employers and Immigrants

The sharp decline in H-1B Lottery applications signals several important changes:

1. Better Integrity in the Lottery: Employers and applicants can have more faith in the system, knowing that each person only has one shot, making it a more level playing field.
2. Fewer Abusive Practices: With duplicate filings down, it’s harder for bad actors to cheat the system, which was a key goal of USCIS in its reforms.
3. Real Reflection of Demand: The data now shows a more honest picture of how many people and companies truly want to take part in the program.
4. Tough Choices for Employers: Companies now must decide which candidates they value most, since registering multiple names for a single candidate no longer works.
5. Competitive Odds for Workers: Applicants face strong competition, but at least now, they know the process is fair.

Looking Ahead: What Will Happen Next?

These changes come at a time when U.S. employers are still in need of skilled labor, especially in areas like technology and healthcare. But other forces may also affect future H-1B Lottery demand:

• U.S. economic shifts, such as changes in the job market, hiring slowdowns, or booms in certain sectors, can make a big difference in how many companies seek H-1B workers.
• Political changes and possible updates to laws around immigration might also affect demand. Many are watching both current and future leadership for signs of more changes.

Moving forward, both employers and foreign workers will have to stay alert to upcoming rule changes and watch for any policy shifts. As the system stands now, the drop in H-1B Lottery applications is mainly a response to efforts by USCIS to make the process honest and fair. The drop does not reflect a lack of need for skilled workers.

What This Means for the Future of U.S. Immigration

The back-to-back decline in H-1B Lottery applications sends a strong signal: real reforms can reshape how companies and workers take part in the system. The numbers suggest the changes were successful at removing loopholes that could be used for unfair gain. It looks like USCIS has succeeded for now in its goal of putting integrity and fairness at the core of the H-1B Lottery.

Still, this is just one part of the larger U.S. immigration picture. The H-1B program is closely watched because it connects directly with the country’s need for skilled workers and its role in global business. By making the lottery process cleaner and more reliable, there’s hope that both employers and talented foreign professionals can plan with greater confidence, even as the field remains extremely competitive.

Considerations for Stakeholders

If you are an employer, it is important to stay current with USCIS updates and be sure your registrations match true job offers. Attempting to work around the rules now carries a much higher risk and is unlikely to succeed.

For foreign skilled workers hoping to build a career in the United States 🇺🇸, understanding the tighter H-1B Lottery rules is critical. Work closely with any potential employer and make sure any job offer is real and properly registered. Even though the process is still a gamble, each entry now truly reflects just one real chance.

If you want to learn more about the official requirements for H-1B visas, consult the USCIS H-1B visa page for the most up-to-date information.

Summary: Where Things Stand Now

To sum up, the sharp decline in H-1B Lottery applications for the second year in a row is mainly the result of new steps by USCIS to prevent fraud and stop duplicate entries. Even with fewer applicants, the H-1B Lottery remains tough, and true demand for skilled foreign talent continues. The changes have made the process more fair, more honest, and a closer reflection of the real needs of the job market.

As the Fiscal Year moves forward, all eyes are on future H-1B Lottery numbers, changes in policy, and upcoming immigration debates. For now, the message is clear: the H-1B program remains strong, continues to attract many, and is more secure and fair than before. Keeping watch on these changes will be essential for anyone connected to foreign skilled work or hiring in the United States 🇺🇸.

Learn Today

H-1B Lottery → Random selection process by USCIS to allocate H-1B specialty occupation visas when demand exceeds the yearly quota.
USCIS → United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the government agency managing immigration processes including the H-1B program.
Beneficiary-centric system → Updated H-1B Lottery rule allowing only one registration per individual, regardless of interest from multiple employers.
Duplicate filings → Multiple registrations for the same applicant by different employers to increase selection odds, now mostly prohibited.
Visa cap → The annual numerical limit (usually 85,000) on new H-1B visas that can be issued each fiscal year.

This Article in a Nutshell

The H-1B Lottery has seen a dramatic decline in applications for the second year, triggered by stricter USCIS rules limiting duplicate registrations. Now, each skilled worker receives only one entry, increasing fairness. However, with just 85,000 visas available yearly, competition remains fierce among U.S. employers and global talent.
— By VisaVerge.com

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