USCIS’s Latest H-1B Program Updates: What You Need to Know

The H-1B program has always been a hot topic for employers and foreign professionals hoping to work in the United States. This year’s process brought some serious updates that changed how selections were made. If you’ve been following along or just want to understand what’s new, here’s a quick breakdown of what happened in the FY 2026 H-1B lottery and what it could mean for the future.

Lottery Numbers Dropped Significantly

This year, USCIS received 470,342 eligible registrations for the FY 2026 H-1B lottery. That’s a sharp drop from the 758,994 registrations in FY 2025. What’s behind this major decline? A key shift: the new beneficiary-centric selection system. In simple terms, each beneficiary could only be selected once, no matter how many employers submitted their names. That change brought the number of unique individuals in the pool to about 442,000—pretty close to the levels we saw in FY 2024. The result? A much more honest and balanced lottery.

One Beneficiary, One Chance: Fairer and Cleaner

The beneficiary-centric system helped cut down on fraud and duplicate entries. Previously, some applicants were registered by multiple companies, increasing their odds unfairly. This new approach focuses on the individual, not the number of employers backing them. It’s a cleaner process, and one that puts the focus back on fairness. It also gave selected beneficiaries more power. Since any employer who registered a chosen candidate could submit an H-1B petition, beneficiaries had more freedom to negotiate offers, something that starts to resemble how U.S. workers handle job choices. Still, while this system seems to fix some big issues, the long-term impact on fraud and the broader job market is something to keep an eye on.

New Passport Requirement Adds Extra Layer of Security

Another change this year: beneficiaries had to provide valid passport details at the time of registration. USCIS introduced this requirement to tighten up the process and make it harder for bad actors to game the system. By linking each registration to a verified identity, the agency hopes to catch inconsistencies and discourage fraud. It’s a smart move, though whether it’s enough on its own is still up for debate.

USCIS Keeps Refining the System

Overall, these updates are part of a larger effort to make the H-1B program more transparent, fair, and fraud-resistant. USCIS is listening to past concerns and adjusting the rules to protect the system’s integrity while still attracting highly skilled foreign workers.

Looking Ahead: Smarter, Fairer, and Still Competitive

The FY 2026 H-1B updates show that real progress is possible when the focus is on fairness and accountability. While it’s still too early to say if all risks have been removed, the beneficiary-centric approach and new ID checks point in the right direction. Want to stay updated or get started on your H-1B petition? Visit USCIS News for announcements and USCIS Forms to access everything you need. Also, don’t forget to support your H-1B application with an excellent expert opinion letter to strengthen your chances.

FAQs: FY 2026 H-1B Lottery and New Selection Rules

1. What is a beneficiary-centric H-1B selection process?

It’s a new system where each individual (beneficiary) can only be selected once in the lottery, regardless of how many employers register them. This helps reduce duplicate entries and fraud.

2. Can multiple employers still file petitions for the same person?

No. Only employers who registered a beneficiary before the lottery and who were matched with that person in the selection phase can file a petition. However, selected beneficiaries now have more flexibility in choosing who to work with if more than one employer registered them.

3. Why did USCIS start requiring passport details during registration?

The passport requirement helps confirm each applicant’s identity and prevents people from submitting multiple entries under different names or slight variations. It’s a move toward more security and transparency.

4. Does the new system improve the odds of selection for first-time applicants?

Yes, it can. By cutting out duplicate registrations, the pool is smaller and more balanced, which may give first-time or single-entry applicants a better shot.