Free tool · Updated October 31, 2026
H-1B lottery odds: the selection rate by year, from USCIS
USCIS selected 120,141 of 343,981 eligible H-1B registrations for FY 2026, about 35%, up from 29% for FY 2025. Since FY 2025, USCIS selects people rather than registrations, and it now describes a weighted selection by wage level. Pick a cap year to see its numbers and what they mean for your odds.
34.9%
34.9% of eligible H-1B registrations were selected for FY 2026, about 1 in 3.
- USCIS selected 120,141 of 343,981 eligible registrations for FY 2026, out of 358,737 submitted.
- That's up from 28.7% for FY 2025.
- FY 2026 used the beneficiary-centric selection, which selects people rather than registrations. USCIS counted about 339,000 eligible people and 1.01 registrations per person. Being registered by more employers doesn't add chances.
A rate per eligible registration, not a personal prediction. USCIS doesn't publish odds by degree, wage level or country. Source: USCIS.
Selected? Next is the visa interview. Practice it out loud
H-1B selection rate by year
USCIS's Historical Data table. Rate = selected / eligible registrations.
| Cap year | Eligible | Selected | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 | 343,981 | 120,141 | 34.9% |
| FY 2025 | 470,342 | 135,137 | 28.7% |
| FY 2024 | 758,994 | 188,400 | 24.8% |
| FY 2023 | 474,421 | 127,600 | 26.9% |
| FY 2022 | 301,447 | 131,924 | 43.8% |
| FY 2021 | 269,424 | 124,415 | 46.2% |
What the numbers mean
- Selection rate
- Selected registrations divided by eligible registrations, from USCIS's Historical Data table. Eligible excludes duplicates, deleted registrations, invalid passport details and failed payments. (uscis.gov)
- One person, one chance
- Since FY 2025 USCIS selects unique beneficiaries, so being registered by several employers doesn't add entries. (uscis.gov)
- Wage level weighting
- Under the current process, if a random selection is needed it is weighted by the highest OEWS wage level the offered wage meets. (uscis.gov)
- Selected isn't approved
- Selection lets the employer file a cap petition. Only a beneficiary with a selection notice for that year can be petitioned under the cap. (uscis.gov)
How it works
- Pick a cap year. The rate is USCIS's selected registrations divided by eligible registrations for that year.
- The answer says what the rate means in plain words, and what changed that year.
- Nothing else is estimated: USCIS doesn't publish odds by degree, wage level or country.
Frequently asked questions
What are the H-1B lottery odds?
For FY 2026, USCIS selected 120,141 of 343,981 eligible registrations, 34.9%. The rate has ranged from 24.8% to 46.2% since FY 2021. (uscis.gov)
Does registering with more than one employer raise my odds?
Not anymore. Since FY 2025, USCIS selects unique beneficiaries, and if you're selected every employer that registered you gets a selection notice. USCIS counted about 1.01 registrations per person for FY 2026. (uscis.gov)
Does the wage level affect H-1B selection?
Yes, under the current process. Registrants give the highest OEWS wage level the offered wage meets, and if a random selection is needed, USCIS runs a weighted selection based generally on that level. USCIS doesn't publish odds by level. (uscis.gov)
What are the H-1B cap numbers?
65,000 under the regular cap, plus 20,000 under the US advanced degree exemption, known as the master's cap. (uscis.gov)
Does being selected mean the H-1B is approved?
No. Selection only lets your employer file an H-1B cap petition for you. USCIS then decides the petition. For the visa step after that, see our H-1B stamping guide. (uscis.gov)
Related guides
Sources 1 pages
Every answer in this tool comes from these pages.
- H-1B Electronic Registration Process, uscis.gov (last reviewed September 21, 2026), checked October 31, 2026
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