The New H-1B Weighted Lottery: What Employers Need to Know for the Upcoming Cap Season
Jan
13
2026
Date: January 13, 2026
Time: 1:00PM - 2:00PM (EST)
Location: Webinar
John Quill, Bill Coffman, and Maryanne Kline of Mintz’s Immigration Section led a timely discussion on the newly published H‑1B registration rule introducing a weighted lottery based on skill and wage level. This significant regulatory change replaced the traditional random selection process by providing increased odds of selection to high‑wage earners and directly impacted employer strategy for the upcoming H‑1B cap season. The speakers broke down what the rule meant in practice and how employers should prepare.
Key discussion topics included:
- An overview of the new weighted H‑1B registration and selection process
- How wage levels and skill prioritization affected selection outcomes
- Implications for employer filing strategies and workforce planning
- Key timelines, effective dates, and expectations for the next cap season
- The impact of recent and potential changes on international travel, visa extensions, and F‑1 and J‑1 student status
Speakers
John F. Quill
Speaker
John’s practice encompasses all aspects of immigration and nationality law. John draws on over two decades of experience to help companies and their employees obtain nonimmigrant visas, including B, E, H, J, L, O, and TN visas. He also handles applications for PERM labor certification; extraordinary ability, outstanding researcher, and national interest waiver petitions; adjustment of status procedures; consular processing; and naturalization.
William L. Coffman
Speaker
William L. Coffman focuses on immigration and nationality law at Mintz. He represents clients on immigration matters before the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of Labor, and US and foreign consulates.
Maryanne Kline
Speaker
Maryanne Kline is a Practice Group Associate at Mintz. Her practice focuses on US federal immigration law, with a concentration on business-based immigration issues. Maryanne counsels clients on issues related to hiring foreign nationals, executives, managers, and other workers.