What is the beneficiary-centric H-1B lottery?

Starting FY 2025, USCIS selects registrations by unique beneficiary—identified by passport number—so each person gets only one chance even if several employers submit entries.

Does the beneficiary-centric rule eliminate multiple job offers?

No. Multiple employers can still file registrations and later petitions, but the duplicate entries do not improve selection odds.

How long is the FY 2026 registration window?

USCIS plans to open the portal from 7 March to 24 March 2026 (noon ET); exact dates will be confirmed in January 2026.

Will my OPT be extended if I’m selected?

Yes. The cap-gap rule automatically extends F-1 work authorization through 30 September if the H-1B petition requests change-of-status.

Beneficiary-Centric H-1B Lottery Explained (FY 2026)

The FY 2026 H-1B cap season will be the second year USCIS runs its new beneficiary-centric lottery, a reform designed to stop multiple employers from carpet-bombing the system with registrations for the same person. Under the final rule, each unique beneficiary gets exactly one chance, no matter how many companies submit a registration. USCIS Federal Register

Below is the nuts-and-bolts guide—perfect for F-1 students planning their cap-gap strategy or employers new to the process.

1. What changed in the final rule?

Topic	Old process (FY 2024 and prior)	New beneficiary-centric process (FY 2025+)
Selection unit	Registration	Beneficiary
Multiple employers	Could file separate entries, each counting in the draw	All entries collapse into one slot per passport
Required data	Name + passport optional	Passport/travel-doc # now mandatory
Start-date flexibility	Only 1 Oct	Any date within 6 months of approval if cap is reached

USCIS USCIS USCIS

2. FY 2026 key dates (tentative)

Milestone	Date
Registration opens	7 Mar 2026 (noon ET) USCIS
Registration closes	24 Mar 2026 (noon ET)
Selection notifications	By 31 Mar 2026
Employers file full petitions	1 Apr – 30 Jun 2026
Cap-gap extension kicks in	OPT ends after 1 Apr 2026

USCIS may adjust these dates; watch its alerts page.

3. What F-1 students must know

Cap-gap auto-extension

If your OPT/STEM-OPT expires between 1 Apr and 1 Oct 2026, the cap-gap rule extends work authorization to 30 Sep once your H-1B petition is marked “selected”.
DSOs can print a new I-20 after you show them the selection notice.

Dual registration myth

Multiple employers can still submit registrations for you, but selection odds do not improve—so pick the strongest sponsor first.

Change-of-status vs. consular

F-1s almost always file change-of-status petitions to stay in the U.S. uninterrupted. Consular processing forfeits cap-gap benefits.

4. How to prepare a compliant registration (step-by-step)

Collect passport data (number, country, expiry) for the beneficiary—this is now the unique identifier. USCIS
Create a myUSCIS org account (new for 2025+) or log in to an existing one.
Pay the $10 registration fee by ACH or card. (A DHS proposal to raise it to $215 is still pending.) USCIS
Review and submit—no uploads are required at the registration stage.
Print the confirmation; share it with the beneficiary for records.

5. Post-selection checklist

Item	Deadline	Note
File Form I-129 + LCA	90 days	New 01/17/25 edition combines H-1/H-2 changes. USCIS
Arrange degree equivalency eval	Before petition	Mandatory if foreign degree
Start prevailing-wage compliance	Before filing	LCA ETA-9035 via FLAG
Track premium processing option	15 days	Fee $2,805 (Feb 2024 rule)

6. Common pitfalls (and fixes)

Mistake	Consequence	Fix
Two employers list different passport numbers for same beneficiary	Both registrations invalidated	Coordinate pass-port data early
Forgetting to tick “cap-gap change-of-status” box on I-129	No auto-extension	Amend petition quickly
Filing petition outside 90-day window	Selection void	Calendar alerts + premium mail

Frequently asked questions

Does one beneficiary-centric entry hurt my odds?

No—USCIS still draws the same 65 k regular and 20 k master’s cap slots. You just can’t game the system with duplicates. USCIS Federal Register

Can two companies file petitions if I’m selected?

Yes. After selection, any cap-subject employer may file, but the first approval triggers the cap; subsequent petitions count as cap-exempt in that fiscal year.

What if my passport expires before 1 Oct 2026?

Use the current passport for registration and renew it ASAP. A renewal does not alter your unique ID after selection.

Will the $10 fee really jump to $215?

DHS proposed the hike in the 2024 fee rule, but as of April 2025 it has not taken effect. Watch the Federal Register for updates. USCIS

References (curated by usaadmission.com)

USCIS: “H-1B Electronic Registration Process” — beneficiary-centric overview and FY 2026 dates. USCIS USCIS
Federal Register: “Improving the H-1B Registration Selection Process and Program Integrity,” 89 FR 7456 (2 Feb 2024). Federal Register
USCIS Outreach Slides: FY 2025 H-1B Registration — passport requirement details. USCIS USCIS
USCIS News Release: H-1B Integrity Measures — start-date flexibility and fraud safeguards. USCIS
USCIS Alert: Revised Form I-129 Effective 17 Jan 2025. USCIS
USCIS Fee Rule PDF (2024) — proposed $215 registration fee. USCIS

All citations link to official USCIS or Federal Register sources for maximum credibility.