H-1B cap registration: fee, deadline & who must file
4 source-bound claims · primary source: USCIS
The obligation, with sources
Every figure below is extracted from the official USCIS H-1B Electronic Registration page and shown with the exact sentence it came from, so you can confirm it in seconds.
| Obligation | Value | Source (primary) & excerpt | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| H-1B registration fee (per beneficiary) | $215 | Citizenship and Immigration Services — H-1B Electronic Registration Process Prospective petitioners seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, must first electronically register and pay the associated registration fee of $215 for each beneficiary.uscis.gov ↗ | June 9, 2026 |
| H-1B regular annual cap | 65,000 | The H-1B regular cap is 65,000 visas each fiscal year.uscis.gov ↗ | June 9, 2026 |
| Advanced-degree exemption (master's cap) | 20,000 | An additional 20,000 H-1B visas are available to beneficiaries who have earned a U.S.uscis.gov ↗ | June 9, 2026 |
| Minimum initial registration period | 14 days | The initial registration period lasts a minimum of 14 calendar days each fiscal year.uscis.gov ↗ | June 9, 2026 |
| Premium processing fee | not yet verified | No authoritative source bound yet — shown as unverified rather than guessed. | — |
Free tools
Each tool computes from the cited figures above — no guesswork, every result traceable to the rule.
H-1B registration eligibility checker
H-1B registration fee estimator
The registration fee is $215 per beneficiary. Estimate your total registration cost.
H-1B registration deadline calculator
The initial registration period runs a minimum of 14 calendar days from the day it opens. Enter the open date to see when the window closes.
Get your H-1B registration package prepared
$215 USCIS registration fee ($215 × 1) is paid directly to USCIS and is not collected here. The $215-per-beneficiary USCIS registration fee is paid directly to USCIS and is not included in this price.
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Frequently asked
How much is the H-1B registration fee?
The H-1B registration fee is $215 for each beneficiary, paid when you electronically register during the cap window.
Who must register for the H-1B cap?
Prospective petitioners seeking to file cap-subject H-1B petitions — including those eligible for the advanced-degree exemption — must first electronically register and pay the fee for each beneficiary. Cap-exempt employers (e.g. qualifying universities and affiliated nonprofits) do not register.
What is the H-1B cap?
The regular cap is 65,000 visas each fiscal year, with an additional 20,000 reserved for beneficiaries holding a U.S. master's degree or higher under the advanced-degree exemption.
How long is the H-1B registration period?
The initial registration period lasts a minimum of 14 days each fiscal year. USCIS then runs a random selection (the lottery) when registrations exceed the projected need.
Verification log
A transparent record of each claim, the value we confirmed, and the primary source it was checked against. See how we verify.
| Verified | Claim | Confirmed value | Against source |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 9, 2026 | H-1B registration fee (per beneficiary) | $215 | uscis.gov ↗ |
| June 9, 2026 | H-1B regular annual cap | 65,000 | uscis.gov ↗ |
| June 9, 2026 | Advanced-degree exemption (master's cap) | 20,000 | uscis.gov ↗ |
| June 9, 2026 | Minimum initial registration period | 14 days | uscis.gov ↗ |
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Informational only and not legal advice. Figures are verified against the primary source on a recurring schedule; confirm time-sensitive details against USCIS before filing.