USCIS selects lowest number of H-1B visa registrations since 2021

Key Takeaways

• USCIS selected 120,141 registrations for H-1B in fiscal year 2026, the lowest since 2021.
• Only 7,828 people had multiple registrations, a drastic drop from over 47,000 last year.
• Selection rate improved to 35.3%, but total entries fell 26.9% from previous year.

The United States 🇺🇸 has just finished its latest round of H-1B visa selections for fiscal year 2026, making news with numbers that stand out in recent history. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) picked 120,141 registrations for the H-1B visa program, which is the smallest number chosen since 2021. This comes at a time when opinions about the H-1B process and U.S. immigration rules remain heated and widely discussed among employers, workers, and the government.

Let’s look at what led to these numbers, what’s different this year, the steps in the visa process, and what it could all mean for those who want to work in the United States 🇺🇸 and for the companies hoping to hire them.

A Look at the Numbers: Sharp Drop in Registrations

This year’s H-1B visa process showed some clear trends. The USCIS recorded sharp drops across several important categories:

– The total number of H-1B registrations was 343,981. That’s a drop of 26.9% from the 470,342 registrations submitted for fiscal year 2025.
– There were about 336,000 unique beneficiaries, down from 423,000 during last year’s cycle.
– The number of unique employers participating actually grew, rising from 52,700 to about 57,600.

These changes point to fewer people trying for an H-1B visa this year, but those who did were supported by a slightly larger group of employers. Why did this happen? We’ll get into that in a bit.

The most dramatic shift is in the number of registrations submitted for the same person. Last year, more than 47,000 people had more than one registration each—some even had several competing companies submit entries on their behalf. But this year, only 7,828 people had multiple registrations. That’s a huge difference.

On average, each beneficiary had just 1.01 registrations submitted for them, compared to 1.06 last year. This means there was almost no duplication, suggesting a strong effort by the USCIS to stop people from gaming the lottery system.

Understanding the H-1B Selection Process

The H-1B visa is a work permit the United States 🇺🇸 gives to foreign professionals who work in “specialty occupations.” These jobs usually require at least a bachelor’s degree or notable skills in areas like engineering, IT, medicine, or business. Because there are more people who want these visas than there are spots, USCIS runs a lottery every year to decide who can apply.

For fiscal year 2026, USCIS finished the registration selection on March 31, 2025. After that, they told all the companies and individuals whose registrations got picked that they could move forward and file official H-1B petitions.

Here’s how the rest of the timeline shapes up for this year:

• The official filing period started April 1, 2025.
• Petitioners have at least 90 days to submit their paperwork, giving them until at least June 30, 2025.
• No approved H-1B visa holder for fiscal year 2026 can begin working in the United States 🇺🇸 before October 1, 2025.

If you were picked, when you file your official petition, you need to provide:

• A copy of your selection notice (a form USCIS gives to those who won the lottery)
• Proof of your valid passport or travel document that you used to register
• Documents that prove you qualify for an H-1B visa (like diplomas, work records, or licenses)

For those who want the step-by-step details on what’s required and the forms to fill out, the USCIS official page on H-1B Electronic Registration Process is a reliable resource.

Why Did the Numbers Fall So Much?

There are a few big reasons for the drop in H-1B registrations this year. Let’s break them down:

1. Beneficiary-Centric Process
   The USCIS continued a major change it started the previous year: now, the lottery is “beneficiary-centric.” In simple terms, that means USCIS focuses on individual people, not every single registration. So, if three different companies submit a registration for the same person, the system only counts that person once in the lottery. This has stopped many of the duplicate entries seen in years past.

2. Better Fraud Prevention
   USCIS made it harder for people to cheat the system. They put in place new rules and checks, which worked very well. As mentioned, the number of people with more than one registration was over 47,000 in the 2025 lottery, but just under 8,000 for 2026. This shows the anti-fraud tools are doing their job.

3. Increased Enforcement
   The agency also cracked down on companies and people who tried to bend or break the rules. This included more investigations, denying petitions that didn’t meet the requirements, canceling approvals when fraud was found, and even referring some cases for legal charges.

Taken together, these steps led to fewer registrations and a system that’s fairer, at least on paper.

How the Selection Rate Stands Out

Even though fewer people registered this year, a higher percentage of them were picked. About 35.3% of the unique people who entered the lottery got selected. That’s a bigger chance than in recent years. However, the total number chosen—120,141—is still the lowest since 2021.

This higher selection rate comes from the sharp fall in “gaming” the system via duplicate entries. The odds are now more straightforward: your name gets picked or it doesn’t. There is less room for multiple bites at the apple.

Why There’s Likely Only One Round

Some years, if not enough people follow through and file complete H-1B petitions (or if too many get denied), USCIS does a second lottery from the leftover registrations. This year, that’s not expected.

Why? The first round picked about 120,141 people, which is a lot more than the annual quota of 85,000 available H-1B visas. USCIS has learned to over-select in the first round, knowing that some petitions will be denied, withdrawn, or simply not filed. This way, they hit close to the cap without needing a second round.

So, if you didn’t get picked in the first round this year, it’s not likely you’ll get another shot.

Employer Participation Grows Slightly

There’s an interesting side note in the numbers: while fewer people registered and less fraud happened, more companies joined in. About 57,600 unique employers submitted registrations, up from 52,700 last time.

This suggests that in spite of policy changes, stricter rules, and all the noise in the news, U.S. companies still need to look overseas to fill specialized jobs. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the steady demand from employers points to a job market for highly skilled workers that’s still strong, despite ongoing immigration debates.

Political Context and Policy Debates

It’s also important to understand that the H-1B lottery isn’t happening in a vacuum. There is plenty of discussion about U.S. immigration policy under President Trump and the rules for work visas like the H-1B. Some changes have already shaped this year’s process, but the full impact of policies and possible new rules may not be clear until the next cycle.

The current approach is more focused on preventing fraud and making sure each person only gets one shot at the lottery. However, debates continue over whether the H-1B really brings the “best and brightest” to the United States 🇺🇸 or if it simply helps companies find cheaper labor. These are complicated questions that draw strong opinions from many stakeholders.

What the Changes Mean for Immigrants and Employers

If you’re an immigrant hoping to work in the United States 🇺🇸 under the H-1B visa in fiscal year 2026, the changes can be both good and bad:

• The odds were actually better for each individual, since duplicate registrations are almost gone.
• However, fewer total entries could mean increased scrutiny, and the process is no longer helped by having many companies submit your name.
• You need to make sure your registration information, paperwork, and supporting documents are perfect and honest.

For companies, the changes send some clear messages:

• There’s less chance to “play the numbers” by registering many times for the same worker.
• The small growth in employer participation might mean that companies are focusing more on the skills they truly need.
• Strict anti-fraud rules mean getting legal advice and following all procedures is more important than ever.

Step-by-Step: Filing After Selection

If your registration was picked, here’s a simple summary of what to do next:

1. Gather your selection notice from USCIS.
2. Collect proof you have a valid passport (or travel document) used to enter the lottery.
3. Prepare documents that show you’re qualified for the H-1B job (like your diploma, license, or resume).
4. File your official H-1B petition during the 90-day window, making sure everything matches your lottery registration and all forms are complete.

For the official instructions, you can always visit the USCIS H-1B information page.

What About Next Year?

While these changes are shaping this year’s process, more changes may come in the future. The outcome of ongoing debates about immigration, as well as how well the current rules stand up, will likely affect fiscal year 2027 and beyond. The true impact of recent fraud prevention and policy changes may only be fully clear in the next few years as we see if H-1B numbers stay low or bounce back up.

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

This year’s H-1B lottery for fiscal year 2026 stands out for several reasons:

• Fewer people entered the lottery, making it the lowest number since 2021.
• The chance of getting picked went up due to fewer duplicate entries.
• Employers continued to participate in large numbers, showing the need for skilled international workers is still strong.
• Strict rules and anti-fraud steps made the process simpler and more honest, but tougher in terms of paperwork and legal compliance.

While all these changes are aimed at making the system work better, they also mean that both immigrants and companies have to be more careful and organized. With political debates ongoing, what comes next is still being written. For now, those lucky enough to be selected will move one step closer to their goal of living and working in the United States 🇺🇸.

If you want to know more about how the H-1B system works and the detailed steps for this year, the USCIS has thorough guidance on their official H-1B process page. And for regular updates on immigration policies and what they could mean for you or your business, keeping an eye on trusted sites like VisaVerge.com is a smart move.

As the next years unfold, all eyes will be on whether anti-fraud steps, changing employer needs, and U.S. politics continue to keep H-1B numbers low or if the old highs will return. For now, the fiscal year 2026 cycle is a turning point, setting a new standard for how the United States 🇺🇸 manages its most important work visa lottery.

Learn Today

USCIS → United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the federal agency managing lawful immigration and overseeing visa programs such as H-1B.
H-1B visa → A U.S. work permit for foreign professionals in specialty occupations, typically requiring a bachelor’s degree or specialized skills.
Beneficiary-Centric → A lottery system focusing on individual applicants instead of each registration, preventing multiple lottery entries by or for the same person.
Fiscal Year → A 12-month period used by governments for accounting; for USCIS, it runs from October 1 to September 30.
Petition → A formal request submitted to USCIS to obtain an H-1B visa, following selection in the lottery registration process.

This Article in a Nutshell

The H-1B visa selection for fiscal year 2026 brought big changes. USCIS’s stricter rules reduced duplicate registrations and fraud, with the selection rate rising to 35.3%. Unique employer participation grew. The process is now harder but fairer, making every honest application more important than ever for hopeful immigrants and employers.
— By VisaVerge.com

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