U.S. Announces 2026 H-1B Visa Lottery Results: Here’s How to Check Your Status

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has started notifying those selected for the 2026 H-1B visa cap season.

This visa program is crucial for foreign professionals in specialty occupations who wish to work in the U.S. Registration for the 2026 season was open from March 7 to March 24.

Steps to Check Your H-1B Visa Status

Applicants can check their visa status by logging into their USCIS online accounts. Here’s what each status means:

Submitted: Your application is submitted and eligible but not yet selected.

Selected: You are selected and can move forward with your H-1B petition.

Not Selected: You have not been selected in this visa cycle.

Denied – Duplicate Registration: You have multiple entries submitted for the same person.

Invalidated – Failed Payment: Your application was disqualified due to payment issues.

Deleted: Your registration has been removed from the system.

Processing Submission: Your application is currently under review by USCIS.

USCIS employs a fair and beneficiary-focused selection process, ensuring each applicant is uniquely considered.

H-1B Visa Cap and Updates

The H-1B program has a regular cap of 65,000 visas and an additional 20,000 slots for applicants with advanced degrees. The program has faced increasing scrutiny and policy changes under President Trump’s administration, including proposals to increase the wages for H-1B workers.

These changes could affect U.S. companies’ ability to recruit international talent. Additionally, starting March 20, the Department of Labor will remove visa records that are older than five years from its database.

The H-1B visa is essential for U.S. employers in industries like engineering, medicine, and technology, seeking to hire skilled foreign workers.

Despite the tight competition—over 114,000 applicants were selected in the previous year—the program continues to be a vital pathway for skilled professionals aiming to work in the U.S.