USCIS Hits FY2026 H-1B Cap; DHS Eyes Reforms

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reached the FY2026 H-1B visa cap, selecting 120,141 registrations from 343,981 eligible entries, representing a 26.9% decline from the previous year. The significant drop in applications and multiple registrations is attributed to stricter compliance measures. Only those selected in the initial round may now file full petitions, while cap-exempt applications for current H-1B workers will continue to be accepted. The Department of Homeland Security is reviewing a proposal to replace the random lottery system with a weighted or merit-based selection process that may favor higher-skilled or higher-paid applicants. This policy review comes amid ongoing debate over the H-1B program's effects on U.S. workers and concerns about potential abuses. Any resulting changes could reshape how skilled foreign workers are selected for U.S. employment.