What are the H-1B lottery odds in 2026?

The H-1B lottery for FY2026 received approximately 470,000 registrations for 85,000 available slots. The overall selection rate was around 18%. Here is how the lottery works and how to improve your chances.

0 FAQLast reviewed: 2026-06-042 Official sources

The H-1B annual cap

The H-1B program has an annual numerical cap:

  • 65,000 visas in the regular cap (available to all qualifying applicants)
  • 20,000 additional visas under the US master's cap (reserved for applicants with a US master's degree or higher)
  • Total: 85,000 H-1B visas per fiscal year

Certain employer types are cap-exempt and do not need to go through the lottery: universities, nonprofit research organizations, and government research organizations. If you work for one of these, you can file at any time of year and skip the lottery entirely.

How the lottery works

  1. Registration window (March): Employers register prospective H-1B workers in USCIS's online H-1B electronic registration system. Cost: $215 per registration.
  2. Lottery selection: USCIS randomly selects enough registrations to fill the 85,000 cap. US master's cap applicants are entered twice: first in the master's cap lottery (20,000), then any unselected master's holders are automatically entered into the regular lottery.
  3. Notification (March): Selected employers are notified. The employer then has a window to file the full H-1B petition.
  4. Petition filing (April–June): Petitions for the H-1B must be filed within the designated period.
  5. October 1 start: Approved H-1Bs can begin work on October 1 (start of the new fiscal year).

FY2025 and FY2026 lottery statistics

FY2025 (lottery held March 2024):

  • Registrations: approximately 470,342
  • Selection rate (regular cap): approximately 17.8%
  • Selection rate (master's cap): slightly higher

FY2026 (lottery held March 2025):

  • Registrations: approximately 470,000+
  • USCIS conducts multiple lottery rounds if cap is not filled from first round

Context: At the peak (FY2023), over 780,000 registrations were submitted, yielding a selection rate of under 15%. A crackdown on duplicate registrations (requiring employer accountability) reduced the number to approximately 470,000 in recent cycles.

Selection probability factors

Your odds depend on:

  • Number of registrations submitted: Lower filings = higher odds for each registrant
  • Master's cap status: US master's degree holders get two chances (both lotteries)
  • Multiple registrations: USCIS has cracked down on employers submitting multiple registrations for the same person — this is no longer a reliable way to game the system

Improving your chances

1. Work for a cap-exempt employer Universities, non-profits, and research organizations can file H-1B without going through the lottery. Some tech workers get H-1Bs by first taking a position at a qualifying university or research institute.

2. Obtain a US master's degree Having a US master's degree gives you two lottery entries (master's cap + regular cap). Many Israeli professionals pursue a US master's specifically to improve H-1B odds and credentials.

3. Consider O-1A as an alternative For individuals with extraordinary achievements (awards, patents, publications, significant industry recognition, or exceptional salary), the O-1A visa is not subject to a lottery. It requires more documentation but is open year-round.

4. L-1 visa (Intracompany Transferee) If you work for a multinational company with a US office, an L-1 transfer is not subject to the lottery. After 1 year in an L-1B (specialized knowledge) or L-1A (manager/executive), you can apply for a green card through a streamlined process.

5. EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) A direct green card path that bypasses both the lottery and employer sponsorship requirements for professionals whose work is in the national interest of the US.

Timeline for Israelis

If selected in the March lottery, the typical timeline:

  • March: Registration selected
  • April–June: Employer files full H-1B petition
  • July–September: USCIS adjudicates (premium processing: 15 business days for $2,805 fee)
  • October 1: Approved H-1B status begins (or cap-gap coverage if currently on F-1 OPT)

If you are not selected

Not being selected is common: the odds are approximately 1 in 5-6. Options:

  • Re-register next year
  • Consider cap-exempt employer positions
  • Explore O-1A, L-1, or E-3 (Australia only) alternatives
  • Begin the EB-2 NIW process while waiting

This content is for informational purposes only.