USCIS announces cap met for regular and advanced degree H-1B visa categories
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially confirmed that it has received a sufficient number of petitions to meet the H-1B visa cap for the fiscal year 2026. The annual limit includes 65,000 regular visas and an additional 20,000 visas under the advanced degree exemption for candidates holding a US master’s degree or higher, reported english.gujaratsamachar.com.
New H-1B applications to wait until 2027 season opens
With the FY 2026 cap met, new H-1B applicants must now wait until the 2027 cap season to apply for fresh petitions. USCIS will only continue to process petitions exempt from the cap.
USCIS clarified that while the cap for new applications has been reached, it will still accept and process cap-exempt petitions, including:
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Extensions for existing H-1B visa holders.
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Changes in employment terms for current workers.
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Transfers allowing H-1B holders to change employers.
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Concurrent employment with multiple employers.
The H-1B visa allows US employers to recruit foreign professionals in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise, typically in fields such as engineering, IT, medicine, and research. To manage demand, USCIS uses a random lottery when registrations exceed the annual cap.
Employers and applicants are advised to subscribe to USCIS updates for future H-1B cap seasons via the agency’s official website.
