H-1B cap lottery season starts Friday! Seven things employers need to know
It’s that time of year! Registration for the H-1B cap lottery for Fiscal Year 2026 will begin the day after tomorrow: Friday, March 7. Here are seven things that employers need to know. No. 1: What is the H-1B visa, and which roles qualify? The H-1B visa is available for foreign nationals employed in “specialty occupations.” “Specialty occupations” require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge. This basically means the role requires a U.S. bachelor’s or higher degree in a directly related specific specialty, or its equivalent. “Specialty occupations” include roles like Software Developers, Data Analysts, or Scientists. No. 2: What exactly is H-1B cap and what is the lottery process? Congress allows for 65,000 new H-1B visas each fiscal year, with an additional 20,000 for beneficiaries with U.S. Master’s degrees or higher related to the occupation. The H-1B is one of the most popular visas in the United States, and there are more appli...