On July 18, 2025, USCIS announced it had received enough petitions to hit the H-1B visa cap for FY 2026. This includes the standard 65,000 visas and an additional 20,000 set aside for applicants with advanced degrees from U.S. schools.
With the cap now closed, thousands of skilled foreign professionals—and the companies that rely on them—must either wait for the next cycle or begin searching for alternatives. Employers who filed after the cap now risk having their petitions rejected. It forces businesses to reassess their hiring plans, especially in industries such as tech, engineering, and healthcare, which heavily rely on global talent. Workers not selected in this round now face hard choices. Some may try to extend their current status, such as F-1 OPT. Others might switch to a different visa category. But for many, this marks yet another year of career uncertainty.
Those already on H-1B visas, however, still have options. They can extend their stay, transfer to a new employer, or change job details. These types of petitions do not count toward the cap and are still being processed. It’s one of the few ways the system allows for some movement—though even that comes with limits. Once again, the yearly H-1B quota has run out long before the need has. The widening gap between immigration policy and workforce needs is creating challenges for talented professionals and the employers eager to hire them. If you have questions about your H-1B case or want to prepare for a future filing, feel free to reach out to our office.
