For those considering applying for temporary residency in the United States through the H-1B visa program, the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2026 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 7, 2025, and will close at noon Eastern on March 24, 2025. During this period, prospective petitioners and their representatives must use a USCIS online account to register each beneficiary electronically for the selection process and pay the associated registration fee.
The H-1B Registration Process
To participate in the H-1B selection process, prospective H-1B cap-subject petitioners or their representatives must register each beneficiary using a USCIS online account and pay a $215 registration fee per beneficiary. If you are an H-1B petitioning employer who does not already have a USCIS online account, you will need to create an organizational account.
Employers who previously had an H-1B registrant account for the fiscal years 2021 through 2024 but did not use it for fiscal year 2025 will have their existing account converted to an organizational account upon their next login. First-time registrants can create an account at any time. Additional resources, including step-by-step instructional videos, can be found on the Organizational Accounts Frequently Asked Questions page, which will be updated with fiscal year 2026 information before the registration period begins.
Selection Process and Notifications
Representatives may add clients to their accounts at any time, but they must wait until March 7 to enter beneficiary information and submit registrations with the required fee. Since selections occur after the registration period closes, there is no advantage to registering on the first day.
For fiscal year 2026, USCIS will continue using the beneficiary-centric selection process that was introduced in fiscal year 2025. This process ensures that selections are based on unique beneficiaries rather than multiple registrations. If the number of unique beneficiaries registered by March 24 meets the cap, USCIS will randomly select beneficiaries and send notifications through USCIS online accounts. If fewer unique beneficiaries register than the cap allows, all properly submitted registrations will be selected. USCIS intends to notify all petitioners and representatives of selected registrations by March 31.
Payment Information and Credit Card Limit Increase
To accommodate the high volume of H-1B registrations, the U.S. Department of Treasury has temporarily increased the daily credit card transaction limit from $24,999.99 to $99,999.99 for the fiscal year 2026 H-1B cap season. Transactions exceeding this amount must be made via Automated Clearing House (ACH), and payors may need to notify their bank in advance to prevent an ACH block on their account. More details on payment processing will be provided before the start of the registration period.
Guidance and Support from Pilkington Immigration
Successfully navigating the H-1B registration process requires careful preparation and compliance with all requirements. The immigration lawyers at Pilkington Immigration are here to help guide you through the process, ensuring that your registration and petition are properly completed to maximize your chances of selection. Whether you are an employer petitioning for an H-1B worker or an applicant seeking temporary residency through this program, our experienced legal team is ready to assist you every step of the way.
Contact Pilkington Immigration today to learn how we can help you successfully complete your H-1B registration and move forward in your journey to temporary residency in the United States.