U.S. Immigration | NEWS
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially announced that the FY 2026 (October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026) H-1B regular cap (65,000) and the advanced degree exemption (20,000) have been fully exhausted. This means that USCIS has received enough applications to reach the quota. All H-1B petitions subject to the FY 2026 cap will no longer be accepted. In other words, there is only one lottery round this year, and those who were not selected will not have a second chance.
Compared to previous years, there is a key change this year: all quotas were exhausted in the first round of the lottery. In previous years, there was usually a remainder, leading to a second round in late July or early August. USCIS has announced in advance that there will be no second round; in the past, one would typically have to wait until late July to confirm if a second opportunity would arise.
As you know, the H-1B, being the primary route for international students and other professionals to legally work and stay in the U.S., has become increasingly competitive and has long been a case of "more people than jobs." If you are an applicant who was not selected for the FY 2026 cap, there will be no "lottery miracle" this year.
Not Selected? The New EB-5 Policy Is the Best Alternative
For those who were not selected, it is crucial to develop an alternative plan as soon as possible to avoid status issues that could impact your future in the U.S. Compared to the uncertainties of the H-1B policy, the new EB-5 investor immigration policy offers a more stable and faster route. Its "no-visa-backlog + concurrent filing" path has become the golden choice for obtaining legal status in the U.S.
Call to Action: Seize the EB-5 Golden Window
Under the new EB-5 law, EB-5 applicants within the United States, including international students, can, provided there is no visa backlog for their project category, file their I-526E immigrant petition and I-485 adjustment of status application simultaneously, and receive their Combo card in about three months. Applicants can legally reside, study, and work in the U.S. while waiting for the green card application to be processed. For those who were not selected in the H-1B lottery, EB-5 not only solves the status issue but also provides more flexible career development space, making it an ideal Plan B.
In fact, for Chinese international students, even if they are selected, the H-1B visa still faces multiple challenges, such as a green card waiting period of over 10 years, increased reliance on employers, and high risks of policy changes. Therefore, for international students, EB-5 immigration is a secure choice for obtaining a U.S. green card.
When it comes to choosing an immigration path, seizing new opportunities is paramount.
Wise applicants should take advantage of the current policy dividend period.
Plan your EB-5 application as early as possible to achieve freedom of status transition.
Pave a secure path to staying in the U.S. for yourself and your family.
Currently, the hot-selling “Great Smoky Mountains Marriott Hotel” EB-5 rural project is in high demand. With the following core advantages, this project is becoming a popular choice for EB-5 investment:
Project highlights include:
☑ Approx. 1.5x real estate first-priority guarantee + developer shareholders providing joint and several liability repayment guarantees with personal assets.
☑ Multi-billion dollar fund provides I-956F denial guarantee, I-526E denial guarantee, and employment creation guarantee.
☑ Project employment multiplier as high as 1.7x.
☑ Located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which attracts tens of millions of visitors, far exceeding Yellowstone.
☑ Located in the prime golden town of Gatlinburg, where accommodations are in high demand.
For inquiries, please contact: Mainland China at 400-138-2929, Hong Kong Customer Service Center at (852) 2802 8798