The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has completed the initial registration process for the fiscal year 2027 H-1B visa cycle, confirming that it received enough electronic registrations to meet the annual cap, including the advanced degree exemption. The agency said it selected a sufficient number of unique beneficiaries with properly submitted entries, and notified employers whose candidates are now eligible to file H-1B cap-subject petitions.
Applicants can check their status through their online accounts.
As the process moves forward, personal accounts online continue to reflect the uncertainty behind the lottery system. In a widely shared Reddit post, one applicant described missing out on selection in what they said was their final attempt. “Last chance H1B, and it didn’t happen. Sharing what I’m feeling,” the user wrote, adding, “My H1B didn’t get picked again this year. This was my last chance, and I’m honestly devastated. It still doesn’t feel real.”
The post captures the emotional toll of repeated attempts. “I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but I’ve always worked hard and managed to get this far,” the user wrote, before adding, “I always think of myself as a lucky person… but I guess not in this case.” The sense of loss went beyond the outcome itself. “I don’t think I’ve ever cried like this before. I didn’t even know I was someone who could cry like this,” they said, noting that “seeing my coworkers so genuinely upset, even crying for me… broke me.”
Having spent years in the United States, the user described the deeper personal stakes tied to the visa outcome. “I’ve lived here for a long time, and this really feels like home. So yeah, I feel pretty lost right now,” they wrote. At the same time, they acknowledged the limits of the system, saying, “At the end of the day, this was a lottery. There was only so much I could control,” while also admitting, “it’s hard not to feel bitter toward people who gamed the system.”
READ: H-1B visa changes April 1: Selection now linked to salary levels (March 31, 2026)
Despite the setback, the post struck a note of resilience. “I’m not letting this consume me and focusing on what I can control. I got this far, so I have to believe I’ll find a way forward again,” the user said. They also reached out to others in similar situations, writing, “If you’re going through the same thing, I’m really sorry… But please take care of yourself… You’ve made it this far, and that matters.”
The message resonated widely, drawing supportive responses. In an update, the user wrote, “Thanks so much for all the kind words… You guys made my morning a lot brighter,” adding that while they may not respond to everyone, they “genuinely wish you all the best and hope your lives are full of happiness.”
Stories like these continue to surface alongside official updates, underscoring how the H-1B lottery remains not just an administrative process, but a deeply personal turning point for many applicants.