The H-1B is one of the most sought-after U.S. work classifications, and because demand routinely exceeds the annual supply, most cap-subject cases go through an electronic registration and random selection before any petition is filed. Understanding the timeline — and getting your documentation organised early — makes the difference between a smooth season and a scramble.
How the cap works
Each fiscal year there is a regular cap of 65,000 H-1B visas, plus an additional 20,000 reserved for people who hold a U.S. master's degree or higher (the "advanced-degree exemption"). Some employers — including many universities and affiliated non-profits — are cap-exempt and can file at any time.
Because registrations usually far outnumber the available numbers, USCIS runs a random selection. Only registrations that are selected may go on to file a full H-1B petition.
The electronic registration step
Cap-subject employers (or their representatives) first complete a short electronic registration for each beneficiary during a defined window, typically in early spring, and pay the registration fee. Each registration captures basic information about the employer and the worker.
After the window closes, USCIS selects enough registrations to meet the cap and notifies registrants. A selected registration is essentially an invitation to file the petition during the assigned filing period — it is not yet an approval.
What strong documentation looks like
The H-1B is for a "specialty occupation" — a role that normally requires at least a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a specific field. The petition needs to connect three things clearly: the position, its degree requirement, and the worker's qualifications.
- A detailed job description showing the role's specialised duties and the specific degree field it requires
- Evidence of the worker's degree (and a credential evaluation if the degree is from outside the U.S.)
- A Labor Condition Application (LCA), Form ETA-9035, certified by the Department of Labor before the petition is filed
- Supporting company materials — organisational context, the project, and how the role fits
Prepare before you're selected
The filing window after selection is finite, so the applicants who do best are the ones who gather evidence before results come out. Collect transcripts and diplomas, line up any credential evaluation, finalise the job description, and confirm the wage level early. If you're selected, you'll be assembling rather than starting from scratch.
Dates, fees and procedures for each season are set by USCIS and can change year to year. Always confirm the current cap-season details on the official page before relying on any timeline.