H-1B approval rate, RFE rate and pending petitions
Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
Data as of · Source: USCIS I-129 petitions by case status and RFE · Sources checked
Approval rate, FY26 to date
97.0%
RFE rate, FY26 to date
8.5%
Received, FY26 to date
312,830
Pending, Jun 2026
156,404
From October 2025 to June 2026, USCIS received 312,830 H-1B petitions and decided 278,650. 97.0% were approved (down from 98.0% in October 2024 to June 2025), and 8.5% of decisions came after a Request for Evidence. 156,404 petitions were pending at the end of June 2026.
Premium processing for Form I-129
- H-1B: USCIS acts within 15 business days, fee $2,965 (on top of the filing fee)
"Acts" means an approval, a denial, or a request for evidence or notice of intent to deny; if USCIS misses the limit it refunds the premium fee. Sources: USCIS premium processing, Form G-1055 (Oct 7, 2026).
How long without premium processing? USCIS shows the current time for each office in its Check Case Processing Times tool (Form I-129, by classification). Track a filed petition with Case Status Online.
What H-1B covers
USCIS describes the H-1B program as applying to employers seeking to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations: jobs that require highly specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor's degree or its equivalent.
These counts cover every H-1B petition on Form I-129, including new employment, extensions, changes of employer and cap-exempt employers, not only petitions from the annual lottery.
By fiscal year
Approval rate = approved ÷ decisions. RFE rate = decisions with a Request for Evidence ÷ decisions. Fiscal years start in October.
| Fiscal year | Received | Approved | Denied | Approval rate | RFE rate | Approval rate after RFE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 (to date) | 312,830 | 270,419 | 8,231 | 97.0% | 8.5% | 81.7% |
| FY2025 | 456,724 | 406,349 | 8,926 | 97.9% | 8.5% | 86.0% |
| FY2024 | 427,109 | 399,410 | 8,231 | 98.0% | 8.2% | 84.9% |
| FY2023 | 386,597 | 386,353 | 10,899 | 97.3% | 9.9% | 81.4% |
| FY2022 | 474,319 | 442,435 | 9,072 | 98.0% | 9.6% | 85.6% |
| FY2021 | 398,284 | 407,058 | 11,228 | 97.3% | 16.2% | 86.5% |
| FY2020 | 427,288 | 426,728 | 39,910 | 91.4% | 28.7% | 73.4% |
| FY2019 | 420,580 | 389,377 | 69,517 | 84.9% | 40.1% | 65.4% |
| FY2018 | 418,596 | 334,924 | 61,382 | 84.5% | 37.9% | 62.3% |
| FY2017 | 403,157 | 373,315 | 29,939 | 92.6% | 21.3% | 73.6% |
Approval rate and RFE rate by fiscal year
Petitions received by month
FAQ
What is the H-1B approval rate?
From October 2025 to June 2026 (fiscal year 2026 so far), USCIS approved 270,419 of 278,650 H-1B petitions it decided, an approval rate of 97.0%. From October 2024 to June 2025 it was 98.0%. Decisions are USCIS's first decision on each petition (not motions or appeals).
How often does USCIS issue an RFE for H-1B petitions?
8.5% of H-1B petitions decided in fiscal year 2026 so far had a Request for Evidence, against 8.1% in the same months a year earlier (October 2024 to June 2025). Of the petitions with an RFE, 81.7% were approved.
Do these numbers include the H-1B lottery?
Yes. Cap petitions filed after a lottery selection are counted here, together with extensions, changes of employer and cap-exempt petitions. The lottery itself happens earlier, at the registration stage; registrations and selections by fiscal year are on our H-1B lottery page (/h1b-lottery).
Related
Source: USCIS, Nonimmigrant Worker Petitions by Case Status and Request for Evidence (RFE). Decisions are USCIS's first decision on each petition (not motions or appeals); new and extension petitions are both counted, and USCIS may revise the figures. Not legal advice.