FY2027 H-1B Cap Registration: Numbers, Dates, Changes
FY 2027 H-1B cap registration ran March 4 to 19, 2026, drew 211,600 registrations and was the first with wage-weighted selection. USCIS reached the cap with the first selection round. There was no second lottery.
Every job is from an employer that filed H1Bs in 2025. See which ones fit your resume.
Key dates
Some earlier law firm alerts listed a noon close on March 19. The USCIS page now lists 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
- Registration opened at noon Eastern on March 4, 2026.
- Registration closed at 5:00 p.m. Eastern on March 19, 2026, per the USCIS registration page.
- USCIS announced the initial selection was complete on March 31, 2026.
- Cap petition filing opened April 1, 2026, for at least 90 days. Reports list June 30, 2026 as the deadline.
- USCIS announced on July 17, 2026 that it had enough petitions to meet the cap.
- FY 2027 jobs could start no earlier than October 1, 2026.
How the lottery works, step by step
- Your employer registers you online in March and pays the registration fee. You cannot register yourself.
- USCIS gives each unique person one to four entries based on wage level, then selects at random from the weighted pool.
- USCIS aims to notify selected employers by March 31. Your employer or its lawyer tells you the result.
- Selected employers file the full petition from April 1, during a filing window of at least 90 days.
- If approved, cap-subject H-1B work can start on October 1 at the earliest.
| Employer | H-1B filings | Transfers | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.Com Services LLC | 14,047 | 2,382 | $155k |
| Cognizant Technology Solutions US CorpGC frozen | 10,209 | 872 | $110k |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 9,808 | 269 | $143k |
| Google LLC | 7,899 | 844 | $186k |
| Microsoft CorporationGC frozen | 7,840 | 879 | $173k |
| Tata Consultancy Services LimitedGC frozen | 7,287 | 353 | $86k |
The numbers
Fragomen reports USCIS counted 211,600 properly submitted registrations for FY 2027. That is down 38.5% from 343,981 for FY 2026.
The cap stayed at 65,000 regular visas plus 20,000 for US advanced degree holders.
Fragomen reports 71.5% of selected people held a US advanced degree, up from 57%. Only 17.7% of selected registrations were at wage Level I.
As of Fragomen's July 2026 report, USCIS had not published a final selection rate. We have not seen one since.
USCIS says cap petitions cannot be filed more than six months before the requested start date. That is why filing opens on April 1.
What changed this year
Weighted selection: each person got one to four entries based on the OEWS wage level of the offer. Level IV got four entries and Level I got one.
Wage level on the registration: employers had to list the highest OEWS level that the offered wage meets or exceeds.
Selection by person: USCIS selects unique beneficiaries, so multiple registrations do not improve odds.
New form edition: from April 1, 2026, USCIS accepted only the 02/27/26 edition of Form I-129 for cap petitions.
Higher card limit: USCIS raised the daily credit card limit for online registrations and petitions to $99,999.99.
Registration fee
The registration fee was $215 per beneficiary for FY 2027. The employer pays it.
Employers registered through a USCIS online account. Ellis notes employers without one had to create an organizational account first.
Selected employers then filed the full petition with its own fees. They could add premium processing for a faster decision.
The $100,000 fee during cap season
Selected petitions for workers abroad could fall under the $100,000 proclamation payment. Most F-1 students changing status in the US were not covered if their change was granted.
As of October 2026, courts have blocked collection of that fee. Appeals are pending.
If you were not selected
Unselected FY 2027 registrations do not carry over. An employer must register you again for FY 2028.
SHRM and Fragomen expect the FY 2028 season to begin in spring 2027. USCIS will announce exact dates.
Cap-exempt employers, such as universities and some research groups, do not need a lottery selection. Change-of-employer petitions for current H-1B workers also skip the cap. See our /h1b/h1b-transfer guide.
When to job hunt for the next lottery
Employers register in March, so they must commit to you before then. To register, they need your passport details, the job's occupation code, worksite and wage level.
That makes fall and winter the best time to apply to cap-subject sponsor jobs. Aim to have an offer, or a firm promise to register you, by February.
Cap-exempt employers, such as universities, can hire you any time. As of October 21, 2026, USCIS had not announced FY 2028 registration dates.
How to prepare for FY 2028
Find employers willing to register you before March. Ask what wage level they plan to list.
Keep your current status valid through the season. F-1 students on OPT should track their work permit end dates closely.
Have your degree documents ready. If you hold a US master's degree, you may also qualify for the 20,000 advanced degree allocation.
Note that a proposed $103,265 fee for cap-subject petitions is pending. It is not final as of October 18, 2026.
Start with employers that already sponsor. Our /h1b-sponsors list shows companies that filed H-1B petitions in 2025.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your own situation with an immigration attorney.
Questions
How many FY 2027 H-1B registrations were there?
Fragomen reports 211,600 properly submitted registrations, down 38.5% from 343,981 for FY 2026.
Was there a second FY 2027 H-1B lottery?
No. USCIS announced on July 17, 2026 that it had enough petitions to meet the cap and would not run a second selection.
What was the FY 2027 registration fee?
$215 per beneficiary, according to USCIS.
When will FY 2028 registration open?
Law firms expect spring 2027. USCIS has not announced exact dates as of October 18, 2026.
When should I apply to H-1B sponsor jobs to make the next lottery?
In the fall and winter, so an employer can commit before registration opens in March. Employers need your details and the job's wage level to register you.
When do H-1B lottery results come out?
USCIS aims to notify selected employers by March 31. For FY 2027, it announced the initial selection was complete on March 31, 2026.
Sources
- USCIS: H-1B Electronic Registration Process
- USCIS alert: FY 2027 H-1B initial registration selection process completed
- USCIS: H-1B Cap Season
- Fragomen: H-1B cap is reached for FY 2027
- SHRM: USCIS reaches FY 2027 H-1B visa cap
- Ellis: 2026 H-1B registration dates
- Federal Register: Weighted Selection Process final rule (90 FR 60864)
