Topics: Immigration
In their few weeks in power, the incoming administration made many changes to immigration policy. One thing that has not changed is the H-1B lottery. On Wednesday, USCIS announced the dates for submission and processing for the Fiscal Year 2026 H-1B lottery entries. Employers use H-1B visas to employ foreign nationals in “specialty occupations” or positions that require a bachelor’s degree in a particular field. A typical user of the H-1 visa is an employer who wishes to retain the services of a foreign student employed using an F-1 Optional Practical Training Employment Authorization Document. However, given the new administration’s rapid changes to immigration policy, employers should consider this visa for a wider set of foreign national employees.
H-1B visas are very popular. Federal law limits the number of new H-1B visas to 85,000 per year. Every year, USCIS received hundreds of thousands of requests for H-1B visas. Because demand for H-1 visas far outstrips supply, USCIS distributes the opportunity to apply for these visas using a lottery via its online filing portal. Employers wishing to participate in the lottery must have an organizational account, and supply USCIS with a modicum of information regarding the proposed employee. This information includes name, date and place of birth, gender, passport information, and educational attainment. Additionally, employers must pay a $215.00 filing fee for every employee they wish to submit. If...
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