After several years of falling chances in the H-1B lottery, U.S. employers are seeing a clear change in 2026. Selection rates for high-skilled foreign workers have improved a lot, giving some relief to companies that depend on global talent.
Recent data shows approval rates have reached some of the highest levels in years. In some cases, they have gone up to 75 percent, while overall selections have crossed the 50 percent mark. This is very different from previous years, when demand was much higher than the number of visas available, leaving many applicants without a chance.
The improvement is largely linked to immigration changes introduced under President Donald Trump. His administration’s policies reshaped the H-1B program and reduced the number of people entering the lottery. With fewer applicants competing for the same number of visas, the chances of selection have gone up.
A report by Bloomberg Law highlights this sharp rise in H-1B lottery success rates, with immigration firms and employers reporting much better results than in recent years.
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Earlier, the chances of selection were about one in three, or roughly 33 percent. In 2026, that has changed. Several top immigration law firms and service providers say selection rates have crossed 50 percent for many applicants.
At Berry Appleman & Leiden, also known as BAL, some employers saw selection rates go beyond 60 percent. Other firms, including Ogletree Deakins and Erickson Immigration Group, along with Boundless Immigration, also reported stronger results compared to recent years.
The gains were even higher for certain groups. Applicants in higher-paying jobs and those with advanced degrees, such as a master’s, saw approval rates cross 75 percent in some cases. This shows a clear shift in how the lottery is working this year.
The jump in H-1B selection rates in 2026 is not by chance. It reflects policy changes introduced under President Donald Trump that have changed how the program works and who applies.
According to Bloomberg Law, the administration introduced a weighted lottery system that gives preference to higher-paid and more experienced workers. But the bigger reason behind the improved odds is the sharp drop in the number of applicants.
One key reason is a $100,000 fee imposed on employers hiring new H-1B workers from outside the United States. This cost has made international hiring much more expensive, discouraging many companies from taking part. Universities and hospitals, which have long depended on foreign workers, have reduced hiring from abroad. Tech companies and other employers under the visa cap have also stepped back, even though they made up a large share of H-1B hiring in the past.
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As a result, total registrations have dropped sharply. Estimates from Lawfully, cited by Bloomberg Law, suggest that between 195,000 and 235,000 applications were filed this spring. That is up to 43 percent lower than last year and the lowest since the online lottery system started in 2020. Just a few years ago, registrations had crossed 750,000. With the annual cap still at 85,000 visas, a smaller pool has naturally increased the chances of selection.
Immigration experts say the fee has played a major role. Kelli Duehning described it as the key factor behind the improved odds. The policy has also helped workers already in the United States, since their employers can enter them into the lottery without paying the extra cost. Alejandra Zapatero said some large clients saw selection rates from the mid-40s to over 70 percent, with even better results for higher wage levels.
Other factors have also reduced the number of applicants. The tech sector, one of the biggest users of H-1B visas, has slowed hiring after investing heavily in artificial intelligence and focusing more on senior roles. At the same time, many employers have taken a wait-and-watch approach because of ongoing policy changes, choosing to skip this year’s lottery.
Legal challenges to the $100,000 fee are ongoing in several federal courts, including the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, as well as district courts in California and Massachusetts. Even if the fee is removed, proposed rules from the Labor Department could increase wage requirements for H-1B workers, which may further reduce demand.