Episode Details

Today, we'll be discussing the H-1B lottery results for 2026, including how the selection process works and what happens after USCIS chooses the registrations. Employers first submit an electronic registration through the USCIS system. If the number of registrations exceeds the available visas, which they typically do, USCIS conducts a random selection process—commonly known as the H-1B lottery. This year, the lottery is wage-weighted, meaning those with level 4 wages will have a higher likelihood of selection, than those with level 1, level 2, and level 3 wages. Broken down even further, this means that individuals who are early on in their career, are less likely to be selected. Only registrations selected in this lottery may proceed to file a full H-1B petition.