If your H-1B registration shows "Selected," USCIS defines that status as "Selected to file an H-1B cap petition." It means the employer (the petitioner) may now file the actual H-1B petition for you. The registration itself is not the petition. USCIS says that you "can only file an H-1B cap-subject petition if you receive a selection notice for the beneficiary of the petition." H-1B selection rules, fees and payment requirements changed in 2025 and 2026, so this article points to the official pages for anything that can shift.
Registration and petition are two different steps
USCIS describes a two-stage process for the H-1B cap. A "cap" is the yearly numerical limit on new H-1B visas and statuses. A "beneficiary" is the worker the petition is for. According to USCIS, a petitioner subject to the cap must "first complete an electronic registration for each prospective beneficiary." USCIS then "runs the H-1B selection process to select unique beneficiaries" from the valid registrations.
USCIS says each registration is for a single beneficiary and comes with a registration fee. We do not state the fee here, because USCIS sets it by fiscal year (FY, the U.S. government's October-to-September year). The USCIS registration page shows the current amount and registration dates.
What a selection notice does
Per USCIS, each registrant whose beneficiary is selected receives a registration selection notice and may file an H-1B cap-subject petition on that beneficiary's behalf. USCIS also says the beneficiary "must have a valid 'Selected' registration notification for that specific fiscal year" before a petition can be properly filed.
The status label is narrow on purpose. It says a petition may be filed. It is not a decision on a petition, and the USCIS page does not describe it as one.
The filing period after selection
This is the part people ask about most, and the official sources describe it in pieces.
- The regulation, 8 CFR 214.2(h)(8)(iii)(D)(3), says: "An H-1B cap-subject petition must be properly filed within the filing period indicated on the relevant selection notice. The filing period for filing the H-1B cap-subject petition will be at least 90 days." The regulation sets a minimum length, and the exact dates are the ones on the selection notice.
- USCIS says an H-1B petition may be filed "no more than 6 months before the employment start date requested for the beneficiary," and that cap petitions must indicate a start date of Oct. 1 or later of the applicable fiscal year.
Because the dates can differ by season, the selection notice, the employer or its attorney is the right source for your specific deadline. The USCIS pages linked below show the dates for the season they describe.
How selection works now: weighted selection
USCIS says that starting in fiscal year 2027 it "has implemented a weighted selection process which favors the allocation of H-1B visas" to higher-skilled and higher-paid workers. If a random selection is needed, USCIS says it will conduct a weighted selection among properly submitted registrations, "based generally on the highest OEWS wage level that the beneficiary's proffered wage will equal or exceed." OEWS is the Department of Labor wage data set that USCIS uses for the wage levels.
The regulation, 8 CFR 214.2(h)(8)(iii)(A)(4)(ii), describes how the weighting works: a beneficiary assigned wage level IV is entered into the selection pool four times, a beneficiary assigned wage level III three times, level II two times, and level I one time.
If you did not get a "Selected" status, USCIS says registrants whose registrations are not selected "will not be notified until after USCIS has determined that the H-1B cap for that fiscal year has been reached." Our page on what to do if you were not selected covers that situation.
Recent developments to check before you rely on any date or cost
Two items on USCIS's own pages are worth reading directly. Both are in flux, so we quote USCIS and give dates rather than summarizing what they mean for any one petition.
- An additional payment for certain petitions. USCIS's H-1B page also describes an additional payment requirement that applies to certain H-1B petitions, and court orders about it. That requirement has changed more than once, so this article does not summarize it. Whether it applies to a particular petition is a question for the employer and its attorney. Read the USCIS H-1B page for the current state.
- Form fees. USCIS says fees for Form I-129 can change. We do not list fee amounts here. Check the Form I-129 page and the fee schedule for the current edition of the form and the current fees. Your employer or its representative handles the form itself.
Registration dates and the registration fee are set for each season, so check the live USCIS registration page for the season you care about.
Common questions
Is "Selected" the same as an approved H-1B?
No. USCIS defines the status as "Selected to file an H-1B cap petition." It allows a petition to be filed. It is not a petition approval.
Can the employer file the petition without a selection?
For a cap-subject petition, USCIS says no: you "can only file an H-1B cap-subject petition if you receive a selection notice for the beneficiary of the petition."
How long is the filing period after selection?
The regulation says the filing period indicated on the selection notice will be at least 90 days. The notice shows the actual period.
Does the start date have to be October 1?
USCIS says cap petitions must indicate a start date of Oct. 1 or later of the applicable fiscal year, and that a petition may be filed no more than 6 months before the requested start date.
Is the registration fee refundable?
USCIS says it does not refund the fee if you delete a duplicate registration. For the current fee and any other refund terms, see the USCIS registration page.
For a rough, non-official look at chances, our H-1B lottery odds tool is available, and our H-1B hub collects related guides.
Official sources
- USCIS: H-1B Electronic Registration Process (reviewed 09/21/2026)
- USCIS: H-1B Cap Season (reviewed 09/21/2026)
- USCIS: H-1B Specialty Occupations (reviewed 09/21/2026)
- USCIS: Form I-129 (reviewed 10/07/2026)
- eCFR: 8 CFR 214.2
GreenLight is not affiliated with USCIS or the U.S. government. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.