The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has started releasing the results for the H-1B visa lottery for Fiscal Year 2026, marking a significant moment for skilled professionals worldwide. For hundreds of thousands of applicants from various countries, this announcement plays a crucial role in shaping their future career paths in the United States.
Each year, the U.S. grants a limited number of H-1B visas to highly skilled foreign workers in fields such as technology, engineering, healthcare, and finance. With only 85,000 visas available and over half a million registrations submitted, the selection process remains intensely competitive. The lottery was conducted electronically, and now, results are becoming available, bringing a mix of excitement and anxiety to hopeful applicants.
To check the outcome, employers and legal representatives who submitted registrations must log into their myUSCIS account. The “Submitted Registrations” section will reflect any status changes for each beneficiary. Individual applicants cannot access the results directly, so staying in contact with an employer or immigration attorney is essential.
A status of “Selected” means the applicant has been chosen and their sponsor has from April 1 to June 30, 2025, to file a full H-1B petition. A “Submitted” status indicates that while the applicant wasn’t selected in the initial round, they may still have a chance if USCIS conducts another selection. A “Not Selected” status confirms that the application was not picked this time, though other visa options or next year’s lottery may offer another opportunity. If marked “Denied – Duplicate Registration,” it means multiple registrations were submitted by the same sponsor, resulting in disqualification.
For those selected, the next steps involve assembling necessary documents, including a job offer letter, Labor Condition Application (LCA) approval, and degree certificates. The employer must submit the petition within the 90-day window. Upon approval, the applicant will be eligible to start working in the U.S. from October 1, 2025.
