On July 18, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has received enough petitions to meet both the 65,000 regular H-1B cap and the 20,000 master’s cap for fiscal year (FY) 2026. This announcement has answered what many have been wondering: Will there be a second round H-1B lottery this year?
What Is a Second Round H-1B Lottery?
A second round H-1B lottery occurs when USCIS selects additional registrations from the original pool because not enough eligible petitions were filed to meet the annual cap. In such cases, USCIS may conduct a second or even third lottery to fill the remaining spots under the H-1B quota.
A second H-1B lottery is not guaranteed and is only conducted if USCIS determines it needs more petitions to meet the annual cap.
Will There Be a Second H-1B Lottery for FY 2026?
No, there will not be a second H-1B lottery round in FY 2026. As of now, the USCIS announcement indicates that both the regular and master’s caps have been met. This means USCIS has already received enough complete, qualifying petitions from those selected in the initial March 2025 lottery.
In previous years (FY 2022, 2023, and 2024), second lotteries were conducted later in the summer due to low petition filing rates.
What Happens Next?
Even though the cap has been reached, USCIS will continue to accept and process cap-exempt H-1B petitions, including those that:
- Extend the stay of current H-1B workers
- Amend the terms of employment for H-1B workers
- Transfer H-1B workers to new employers
- Permit concurrent employment in multiple H-1B positions
If you were not selected in the March 2025 H-1B lottery and have not received an update since, it is unlikely that a second lottery will take place.
President Trump has signed a new proclamation introducing a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions. This change could impact employers and foreign workers planning to apply, but exclusions apply.Read our full article for more details
What Should You Do If You Weren’t Selected?
If you weren’t selected and USCIS does not conduct a second round H-1B lottery for FY 2026, you have a few options:
- Explore cap-exempt employers
- Consider alternative visa options, such as the O-1, TN (for Canadian and Mexican nationals), or L-1 if eligible.
Prepare for next year’s H-1B cap season, which typically opens registration in March.