USCIS Reaches H-1B Visa Cap for Fiscal Year 2026
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially announced that it has reached the cap for approved petitions under the H-1B visa program for fiscal year 2026. The H-1B visa is one of the most in-demand categories for U.S. employers seeking to hire highly skilled international talent in specialized fields such as technology, engineering, medicine, and finance.
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What does this announcement mean?
USCIS confirmed that it has received enough petitions to meet:
- The regular cap of 65,000 H-1B visas established by Congress.
- The additional 20,000 visas reserved for individuals holding advanced degrees from U.S. institutions, known as the “master’s cap.”
This means that no new cap-subject petitions will be accepted for fiscal year 2026, which begins on October 1, 2025.
What petitions will still be accepted?
Although the regular cap has been reached, USCIS will continue to process certain H-1B petitions that are not subject to the annual limit, including:
- Requests to extend the stay of current H-1B workers.
- Petitions to amend the terms of employment for existing H-1B holders.
- Employer changes for workers who already hold valid H-1B status.
- Authorizations for H-1B workers to take on additional roles with a different employer under the same visa category.
What is the H-1B visa?
The H-1B visa allows U.S. companies to temporarily employ foreign professionals in specialty occupations. To qualify, the applicant generally must have at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in work experience. The program is especially important for industries such as tech, science, medicine, mathematics, and architecture.
What should employers and applicants do now?
Those who were not selected in this round will need to wait for the next application cycle, which typically begins in March each year. USCIS encourages employers and prospective applicants to subscribe to official updates on its website, where all news related to the H-1B program is posted.
Conclusion
The closure of the H-1B cap for fiscal year 2026 highlights another year of strong demand for international talent in the U.S. While the main filing window is now closed, options remain for those already holding valid H-1B status. Staying informed and planning ahead will be key to navigating future application processes.
From: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-reaches-fiscal-year-2026-h-1b-cap
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