The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has begun announcing the results of the H-1B visa lottery for the fiscal year 2026, marking a crucial step for foreign professionals seeking employment in the U.S.
How to Check Your Status
Applicants can verify their lottery selection through their employer, legal representative, or by logging into the USCIS online portal.
Understanding Your Lottery Outcome
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Selected: If your status is marked as “Selected,” you have passed the lottery stage. The next step involves submitting a complete petition with all required documentation and preparing for any additional requests from USCIS.
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Submitted: If your status remains “Submitted,” your application is still under consideration, and you may need to wait for further updates.
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Not Selected: If your status has not changed to “Selected” by April 1, 2025, it means you were not chosen in this round. Applicants who are not selected may explore alternative visa options, such as the O-1 visa for individuals with extraordinary abilities or the L-1 visa for intracompany transfers.
Key Dates and Updates
The H-1B visa registration period for FY 2026 ran from March 7 to March 24, 2025, during which U.S. employers submitted applications for foreign professionals in specialized fields such as technology, healthcare, and engineering.
Notably, the registration fee increased from $10 to $215 per applicant, a move aimed at reducing non-serious applications and covering administrative costs. USCIS has also introduced procedural changes to improve the selection process and enhance fairness in visa allocations.
Increase in Student Visa Rejections
Meanwhile, data from the U.S. State Department highlights a rising rejection rate for student visas. Between October 2023 and September 2024, 41% of international student visa applications were denied, nearly double the rejection rate from 2014.
Applicants awaiting H-1B lottery results should stay updated, as USCIS is releasing selection notifications in phases.
