Overview
- Electronic registration opens at noon ET on March 4 and closes at noon ET on March 19, 2026, with a $215 nonrefundable fee paid via myUSCIS organizational accounts.
- USCIS will apply a wage‑weighted selection tied to DOL prevailing wage levels, granting more entries to higher wage tiers and reducing odds for lower‑paid roles.
- Only beneficiaries with selected registrations may file cap petitions, with a 90‑day filing window expected to begin no later than April 1, 2026.
- A proclamation‑linked $100,000 petition fee may be required for certain cases before filing, and its scope remains under active legal challenge.
- USCIS may run additional selections and filing rounds if the quota is not met, while established cap exemptions for certain employers and previously counted H‑1B workers continue to apply.