H-1B Early Registration to Begin on March 7 for FY 2026

Washington : The early registration period for the H-1B visa program, highly sought after by Indian IT professionals, will begin on March 7 and conclude on March 24, according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant work visa that allows US companies to employ foreign professionals in specialized fields requiring theoretical or technical expertise. Technology firms, especially in the IT sector, rely heavily on this visa to hire skilled workers from countries like India and China.

USCIS announced that the H-1B registration period for FY 2026 will start at 12 noon Eastern Time (10:30 pm IST) on March 7 and end at 12 noon Eastern Time (10:30 pm IST) on March 24. During this period, prospective petitioners and legal representatives must electronically register each beneficiary through the USCIS online system and pay a $215 registration fee per applicant.

New Beneficiary-Focused Selection Process

For FY 2026, USCIS will continue using the beneficiary-focused selection system introduced in FY 2025. This approach aims to minimize fraud and ensure equal selection opportunities for all applicants, regardless of the number of registrations submitted on their behalf by employers.

Indians remain the primary recipients of H-1B visas, which help attract highly skilled professionals to the US workforce. Each year, Congress mandates 65,000 H-1B visas, with an additional 20,000 visas allocated to individuals holding advanced degrees from US institutions.

Selection and Notification Process

If the number of unique beneficiary registrations received by March 24 meets the required quota, USCIS will conduct a random selection process and notify successful applicants through their USCIS online accounts.

However, if the required number of unique registrations is not met, USCIS will select all properly submitted registrations during the initial period, ensuring all eligible applicants have a chance to secure a visa.

With the US fiscal year beginning on October 1, successful H-1B applicants will be able to start employment from that date, subject to approval.