The H-1B visa registration period for the current fiscal was closed on Monday afternoon, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The registration opene on March 7.
The USCIS will now notify the applicants by March 31. Eligible applicants can now file their H-1B petition for FY 2026 in the next 90 days.
When will H-1B visa registration resume?
The H-1B visa window usually opens for 14 days every March. Hence, the next registration window will open by March 2026. In case there is a tweak in government policy under the new Donald Trump administration, it will be notified on the USCIS website.
Each registration costs $215. H-1B cap-subject petitions, including beneficiaries eligible for the advanced degree exemption, must first electronically register and pay the fee for each beneficiary.
Employers seeking to file Form I-129 with USCIS should first submit a Labour Condition Application (LCA) and get the certification from the US Department of Labor.
H-1B visa allows an Indian worker to stay for three years in the US and can be extended later. The H-1B admission cannot be extended for more than six years. However, visa application is not needed for those who already have a valid status and can just apply for a change of status instead.
Anyone who has been offered a temporary professional position by a US employer can apply for H-1B status. These employees need a bachelors degree to be eligible. There is an annual cap of 65,000 new visas every fiscal year.
