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USCIS H-1B Cap Registration Schedule for FY 2027
- 24 hours ago
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What employers and applicants need to know about dates, rules, costs, and the new wage-weighted selection process
Every year, thousands of U.S. employers seek to bring foreign professionals to the United States under the H-1B visa program. For the FY2027 cap season, significant changes to the selection process and requirements mean that preparation and strategy are more important than ever.
Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the latest FY2027 H-1B cap season — including key dates, rule changes, costs, selection methodology, and compliance considerations.
Key H-1B Cap Season Dates
Milestone | Date (2026) |
Initial Registration Opens | Mar 4, 12:00 PM ET |
Initial Registration Closes | Mar 19, 12:00 PM ET |
Selection Notifications | By Mar 31, 2026 |
H-1B Petition Filing Period | Apr 1 – Jun 30, 2026 |
• Only registrations submitted online during the March window are eligible for selection.
• USCIS intends to notify all selected registrants via the employer’s online account by March 31.
• Petitions for selected beneficiaries may be filed starting April 1 and generally remain open for at least 90 days.
What Has Changed for FY2027 H-1B Cap Lottery
Wage-Weighted Selection Replaces Random Lottery
For the first time, the H-1B selection process will not be a pure random lottery. Under a final Department of Homeland Security regulation, USCIS will use a wage-level-based weighted system instead of equal odds across all registrations. This change is intended to prioritize higher-paid positions and better protect U.S. workers.
How the weighted system works:
Registrations tied to higher DOL prevailing wage levels receive proportionally more “entries” in the selection pool.
A Level IV wage (highest tier) earns four chances; Level III earns three; Level II earns two; Level I earns one.
USCIS continues to use a beneficiary-centric system, meaning each eligible individual is entered once, but weighting increases their statistical chance of selection based on wage level.
Why this matters: Employers must now strategize wage levels on registrations — not just submit as early as possible — because pay and job classification can materially affect selection odds.
Electronic Registration Remains Mandatory
All registrations must be submitted electronically via a USCIS organizational account during the initial registration window. Each registration must include:
Beneficiary passport or valid travel document information
Job title and occupational code (SOC)
Work-site location
Prevailing wage level designation
The non-refundable $215 registration fee per beneficiary
Registrations submitted before or after the official window will not be accepted.
Possible Additional $100,000 Fee
USCIS and the U.S. government have indicated that under a recent policy (a Presidential Proclamation restricting certain nonimmigrant workers), employers whose registrations are selected may need to pay a supplemental $100,000 fee before submitting their H-1B cap petitions.
Important: This surcharge applies under specific circumstances (e.g., consular processing), and practitioners should consult counsel to determine applicability on a case-by-case basis.
Steps Employers Should Take Now
Prepare Organizational USCIS Accounts
If you have not already, establish or update your USCIS organizational account so you can enter registrations without delay once the portal opens.
Collect Complete Beneficiary Data
Gather the following in advance:
Passport details (required for unique beneficiary identification)
Job descriptions
SOC codes
Prevailing wage analysis (based on DOL wage levels)
Accurate wage and job data are essential under the new weighted selection model.
After Selections — What Happens Next
Once selection notices are received (expected by March 31, 2026), employers can file cap-subject petitions for those beneficiaries from April 1 through June 30, 2026. Only selected registrations may proceed to this stage.
At the petition stage, employers should be prepared to:
Submit evidence supporting the wage levels declared in the registration
Demonstrate that the job and wage offer align with what was submitted electronically
Prepare for Requests for Evidence (RFEs) if there are inconsistencies
This makes pre-registration planning more important than ever.
Practical Considerations & Compliance Tips
Do not submit duplicate registrations for the same beneficiary — this can invalidate all entries for that person.
Understand wage level implications and prevailing wage documentation before submitting.
Work closely with immigration counsel to align registration data with petition filings.