H 1B Registration 2026 The $215 Mistake You Cannot Afford | Immigration News Today

Описание: Welcome back to Immigration News Today. If you are an employer or a foreign professional preparing for the H-1B lottery this year, you are facing the most complex registration season in a decade. As of February 2026, USCIS has implemented a shorter 15-day window and a brand-new "Weighted Lottery" system that fundamentally changes your chances of selection.

In this full breakdown, Senior Analyst James covers the March 4–19 registration window, the non-refundable $215 fee, and the Level I–IV wage-based selection process. We also discuss the controversial $100,000 entry fee for certain offshore beneficiaries and the strict anti-gaming rules designed to prevent fraud. One small data entry error during this 15-day window can cost you your spot entirely.

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Video:
✔️ The 15-day H-1B registration window (March 4 – March 19, 2026)
✔️ Why the $215 registration fee is now non-refundable
✔️ How the new "Weighted Lottery" favors Level III and IV wages
✔️ The $100,000 entry fee for beneficiaries outside the U.S.
✔️ New specialty occupation definitions under the Modernization Rule
✔️ Anti-gaming provisions and lowest-wage-level penalties
✔️ Cap-gap protection updates for F-1 students on OPT


0:00 – H-1B 2026: A Shorter Window & New Risks
2:30 – Registration Dates: March 4 to March 19, 2026
5:00 – The $215 Fee & Specialty Occupation Rules
8:00 – The Weighted Lottery: How Wage Levels I-IV Work
11:00 – The $100,000 Entry Fee for Offshore Applicants
14:00 – Anti-Gaming Rules & USCIS Fraud Detection
16:30 – Filing Checklist & Cap-Gap Protection for Students

Disclaimer:
Immigration News Today is an educational platform. This video is for informational purposes and is not legal advice. James is an Analyst, not an attorney. Always consult a licensed immigration attorney before filing. Verify all rules on USCIS.gov and the Federal Register.

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