FY 2027 H-1B Lottery: Important Dates and Changes

In this article:

• H-1B Registration Period
• Who Must Register
• Registration Process
• Registration Fee
• Information Required to Register
• Selection Process
• Additional Considerations
• Get Help with an H-1B Visa

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced important details for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 H-1B cap season, including confirmed registration dates and a new weighted selection process that prioritizes higher paid positions.

H-1B Registration Period for FY 2027 Cap Season

Who Must Register for the H-1B Visa?

Any employer seeking to file an H-1B cap-subject petition, including petitions under the U.S. master’s cap exemption, must register electronically during the registration period.

A petition may be filed only if the registration is selected.

Registration Process for H-1B Visa

• Registrations are submitted electronically through myUSCIS.gov
• Employers must have a USCIS organizational account
• Attorneys and accredited representatives use representative accounts
• Beneficiary information and registrations may be entered starting March 4, 2026

All coordination and submissions occur electronically.

Registration Fee for H-1B Visa

• $215 per registration
• Nonrefundable
• Paid electronically at the time of registration
• Separate from all H-1B petition filing fees

Information Required to Register for a H-1B Visa

Foreign Worker Information

• Full legal name
• Date of birth
• Country of birth
• Country of citizenship
• Gender
• Passport or travel document number
• Whether the foreign worker has earned a U.S. master’s degree or higher
• Wage level (Level I–IV)

Wage level determinations should be reviewed with immigration counsel prior to lottery submission.

Selection Process for H-1B Visa

Beneficiary Centric Lottery

Each foreign worker is entered only once, even if multiple employers submit registrations. USCIS uses passport or travel document information to prevent duplicate entries.

New for FY 2027: Weighted Selection

USCIS has finalized a new selection process for the FY 2027 H-1B cap lottery. Under the new rules:

• The lottery will no longer be entirely random
• Registrations tied to higher wage levels will have a greater chance of selection

Wage Level Weighting

• Level I (Entry Level): 1 entry
• Level II (Qualified): 2 entries
• Level III (Experienced): 3 entries
• Level IV (Senior Level): 4 entries

As a result, the salary offered for the position may directly impact selection odds. If registrations do not exceed the annual cap, all properly submitted registrations will be selected.

Additional Considerations

Employment Start Date

If selected, USCIS permits an H-1B start date on or after October 1, provided it is within six months of the petition filing date.

Potential Additional Fee

A September 19, 2025 presidential proclamation may require some employers to pay an additional $100,000 fee if a registration is selected and an H-1B petition is filed. This does not affect registration.

Please consult our immigration department to assess whether this fee applies.

Get Help from an H-1B Visa Immigration Attorney

For questions about the FY 2027 H-1B lottery, registration strategy, wage levels, or potential additional fees, feel free to contact me at aputintseva@bhlawpllc.com or 315-701-6372. We're here to help!