2025 USCIS H-1B Registration Dates and Fees 2025

As announced today by USCIS, the registration period for the 2026 H-1B lottery will open at Noon, March 7, 2025. It will run through Noon, March 24, 2025. An employer wishing to sponsor an employee will need to file a registration during this time to be entered into the lottery.  If selected, the Employer will be able to file an H-1B for the employee with a start date of October 1, 2025.

Is important to note two things:  First, USCIS has raised the fee for the registration to $215; Second, it is very important to ensure that the correct information is provided on the registration.  USCIS can deny a subsequent H-1B if any of the information in the registration is incorrect.  While they may not deny the application for minor discrepancies, it does depend on the mistake.

It is also important to remember that, starting last year, USCIS began using the beneficiary-centric selection system.  This means that each BENEFICIARY gets only one entry regardless of how many employers file a registration for that beneficiary.  This was implemented to stop companies that had been colluding to enter a beneficiary into the lottery multiple times.  Lastly, USCIS has changed employer accounts for the H-1B registration to Institutional accounts.  If you did not use the system last year, your account will be updated when you login again.

Please do let me know if you require any assistance getting set up or to submit any registrations for this years lottery.  And good luck.