Visa & Green Card
H-1B Lottery Timeline & Odds
Where are you in H-1B cap season? Enter your cycle and stage to see your registration, selection, filing, and start-date milestones with a live countdown.
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Educational estimate only. Not legal, tax, immigration, or financial advice. Full disclaimer below.
Data source: USCIS H-1B Cap Season · updated June 2026.
H-1B cap season generally runs: employer electronic registration in the spring, a lottery selection, then selected registrations file the full petition during a filing window, followed by approval/denial/RFE, and an October 1 earliest start date for cap-subject employment.
The H-1B cap process is a fixed annual cycle with a registration window, a random lottery, and a petition-filing period. This page lays out the timeline, who does what, the fees involved, and realistic odds so you can plan around cap season.
- Who this tool is for
- Prospective H-1B workers (including F-1 students on OPT) and employers planning around the annual H-1B cap registration and lottery — with a focus on Indian applicants.
- Estimated timeline / fees
- The cap cycle is roughly: registration in March, selections announced by late March, petition filing from April 1 into June, and an October 1 earliest start. Exact dates are set by USCIS each year — verify the current-year schedule before relying on it.
Key inputs & documents you'll need
- Whether you have a sponsoring employer for cap season
- Your degree level (a US master's may qualify for the advanced-degree bonus)
- The job's SOC code and worksite (for the LCA)
- Whether the employer plans to use premium processing
- Your current status and work-authorization dates (e.g., OPT/STEM OPT end date)
Where you are now
Registered — waiting on the lottery
Selections are posted by Mar 31, 2026. Watch your employer's USCIS account for a "Selected" status.
Next key date
Calculating…
Dates for FY2027 follow USCIS's usual cap-season pattern and are pending verification against the official USCIS announcement. Always confirm exact dates on uscis.gov.
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Last updated: · Source: USCIS H-1B Cap Season
After the tool
Who does what in cap season
Employer account & registration
The sponsoring employer creates a USCIS account and electronically registers each beneficiary during the registration window, paying the registration fee. Workers cannot register themselves.
Beneficiary registration
Each candidate is registered by the employer with basic biographical details. USCIS runs a beneficiary-centric selection so a person isn't advantaged by multiple registrations.
Selection notice
If selected in the lottery, the registration status changes to 'Selected,' and the employer becomes eligible to file the full H-1B petition for that beneficiary within the filing window.
LCA
Before filing, the employer obtains a certified Labor Condition Application (LCA) from the Department of Labor attesting to the wage and worksite.
Petition filing
The employer files the Form I-129 H-1B petition with supporting evidence during the filing window that opens April 1.
Premium processing (optional)
For an extra fee, premium processing gives a faster adjudication decision. It's optional and speeds the decision, not the start date.
Start date
Cap-subject H-1B employment can generally begin no earlier than October 1 of that fiscal year, even if approved earlier.
Step-by-step process
- Line up a sponsoring employer before registration opens (usually early March).
- Employer registers you electronically and pays the registration fee.
- Wait for the lottery selection results (typically by late March).
- If selected, the employer obtains a certified LCA from the DOL.
- Employer files the Form I-129 petition during the filing window (from April 1).
- Optionally use premium processing for a faster decision; if approved, begin cap-subject work on or after October 1.
H-1B cap season timeline (typical)
Dates are set by USCIS each year — confirm the current-year schedule.
Registration
- Estimated time
- ~March
- Notes
- Employer registers beneficiaries; registration fee due.
Selection (lottery)
- Estimated time
- By late March
- Notes
- Random selection; status shows 'Selected'.
Petition filing window
- Estimated time
- April 1 into June
- Notes
- Employer files Form I-129 with the LCA.
Earliest start date
- Estimated time
- October 1
- Notes
- Cap-subject employment can begin.
Fees, timelines, forms, and agency rules can change. Always verify with official government sources before filing or making decisions.
Who pays — and what's optional
Employer-paid fees
Certain H-1B costs are legally the employer's responsibility, including the registration fee and key petition filing fees. Employers generally cannot pass these required costs to the worker.
Optional premium processing
Premium processing is an optional add-on for a faster decision. Who pays can depend on the situation, but it is not a required cost of the petition.
Fees change and specific cost-shifting rules apply. Confirm current H-1B fees on the official USCIS source and consult an immigration attorney about who may pay what — this is not legal advice. USCIS Form I-129 (H-1B) →
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming you can register yourself — only an employer can register and file.
- Missing the registration window because a sponsor wasn't lined up in time.
- Treating selection as approval — a selected registration still needs a filed, approved petition.
- Expecting to start before October 1 for cap-subject employment.
- Confusing premium processing (faster decision) with a faster start date.
Related NRITOUSA tools
Frequently asked questions
When is H-1B lottery registration?
The electronic registration window typically opens in early-to-mid March each year and lasts a few weeks, with selections announced by late March. Exact dates are set by USCIS annually, so confirm the current-year schedule before planning around it.
Who can register for the H-1B lottery?
Only a sponsoring employer can register a beneficiary — workers cannot register themselves. The employer creates a USCIS account, registers each candidate with basic details, and pays the registration fee during the window.
What happens after selection?
If your registration is selected, the employer can file the full H-1B petition (Form I-129) during the filing window, after obtaining a certified LCA from the Department of Labor. Selection is only the eligibility to file — the petition still has to be filed and approved.
Can I pay for my own H-1B?
Certain H-1B costs are legally the employer's responsibility and generally cannot be shifted to the worker. Some optional costs, like premium processing, can be handled differently. Because the rules on who may pay what are specific, confirm your situation with an immigration attorney — this is educational information, not legal advice.
What are the H-1B lottery odds?
Odds vary year to year based on how many registrations are submitted against the annual cap. In recent high-demand years the selection chance has often been well below 50%, and the advanced-degree (US master's) bonus can improve chances. Treat any odds estimate as approximate.
When can an H-1B worker start?
For cap-subject H-1B employment, the earliest start date is generally October 1 of that fiscal year, even if the petition is approved earlier in the summer. Premium processing speeds up the decision but does not move the October 1 start date.
What happens if I'm not selected in the H-1B lottery?
Unselected registrations aren't carried forward — you'd need to be registered again the next cap season. In the meantime, options can include staying on OPT/STEM OPT if eligible, working for a cap-exempt employer (like a university or nonprofit research organization), or exploring other visa categories. Discuss your situation with an immigration attorney.
What is a cap-exempt H-1B employer?
Cap-exempt employers — commonly universities, affiliated nonprofits, and nonprofit or government research organizations — can file H-1B petitions year-round without going through the lottery cap. Working cap-exempt first and later moving to a cap-subject employer is one strategy when lottery odds are uncertain.
Related guides and tools
Disclaimer, assumptions & sources
This tool is for general education and planning only. It does not replace advice from a CPA, attorney, financial advisor, USCIS, IRS, State Department, or other official source. Rules, limits, forms, fees, dates, and government processing information may change. Always verify before filing, investing, or making immigration, tax, or financial decisions.
- For educational use only — not legal advice.
- Not tax advice.
- Not financial advice.
- Not immigration advice.
- Numbers, forms, fees, dates, rules, and limits may change at any time.
- Always verify with official sources before acting.
- Consult a CPA, attorney, financial advisor, or the relevant official agency (USCIS, IRS, State Department) when it matters to your situation.
NRItoUSA is not affiliated with USCIS or DHS. H-1B cap dates and rules can change each season — verify against official USCIS announcements.
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