H-1B Visa 2027 Registration: Key Dates & Lottery Rules

The H-1B visa 2027 registration window for the FY 2027 cap is now open, and US employers have just 16 days to file electronic registrations for foreign professionals. USCIS has paired this short window with a new wage-based, weighted selection process that changes how the lottery works for many tech and STEM workers. For Indian IT firms and US startups alike, this season is no longer about filing as many entries as possible, but about planning salaries, wage levels, and documentation.

1. Registration Window and Who Can Apply

USCIS opened the FY 2027 cap registration at noon ET on March 4, 2026, and it will close at noon ET on March 19, 2026. During this period, US employers and their authorised representatives must submit electronic registrations for each prospectiveH-1B worker through the USCIS online system. Late submissions are not accepted once the window closes, and there is no second chance if an employer misses this deadline.

Who is Covered by this Window?

Existing H1B workers changing employers, extending status, or amending petitions usually fall outside the cap and are not part of this lottery.

• New capsubject H-1B petitions under the regular cap of 65,000 visas.

• Advanced degree holders from US universities are competing for the 20,000 master’s cap slots.

• Most first-time H1B applicants are currently on F-1 OPT or working abroad for US companies.

2. Electronic H-1B Visa 2027 Registration is Now Mandatory

USCIS has fully shifted to online registrations, and electronic registration is mandatory for the FY 2027 H-1B cap. Employers must use a USCIS organisational account or work with their immigration counsel’s account to submit each beneficiary. Paper-based registration is no longer accepted, and each candidate must appear as a unique beneficiary in the system. Key online steps for employers and attorneys:

• Create or update a USCIS organisational account.

• Add company details, including FEIN and contact information.

• Enter beneficiary data (name, date of birth, country of birth, citizenship, passport number).

• Indicate if the beneficiary qualifies for the advanced degree cap.

Also Read: Protecting Genuine Investors in the EB-5 Green Card Program

3. New Weighted Selection System: Higher Wages, Better Odds

For FY 2027, USCIS will not rely on a purely random lottery; instead, it will use a wage-based weighted selection system tied to the four prevailing wage levels in the US labour market. The Department of Homeland Security rule, effective February 27, 2026, requires registrants to state the wage level that matches the offered salary for that job and location. Under this framework, entries receive additional “weight” in the lottery based on wage level:

4. H-1B Visa 2027 Registration Fee and Extra Costs

The H-1B visa 2027 registration fee remains 215 USD per beneficiary, payable online at the time of registration. USCIS will reject entries where the fee is unpaid, underpaid, or linked to invalid payment methods. Typical cost elements for employers during the cap season include:

On top of this, certain capsubject petitions filed for consular processing rather than a change of status may attract a separate 100,000 USD statutory fee, though litigation around this charge is ongoing. Large users of the program need to budget carefully for candidates processed outside the US, especially where consular notification is involved.

5. Selection results and next steps after the lottery

Once registration closes at noon ET on March 19, 2026, USCIS will run the selection process using the wage-weighted system. If enough registrations are received to reach the regular and master’s caps, USCIS will pick a sufficient number of unique beneficiaries to meet the limits. The agency has indicated that:

• Selection notices will be posted in USCIS online accounts by March 31, 2026.

• Each selected case will show as “Selected,” with details for filing the full petition.

• If registrations are below the cap, all properly filed unique registrations during the window may be selected.

Employers then move to filing complete H-1B petitions, with supporting evidence of the job, wage level, degree credentials, and any advanced degree exemption claims. USCIS will set a filing window (commonly around 90 days) for these petitions, and missing that window can result in the loss of the selected slot.

Also Read: Green Card Delay Puts H-1B Workers' Children at Risk of Deportation

6. Why The H-1B Visa Still Matters in 2027

The core structure of the H-1B program remains the same: an annual cap of 85,000 visas, including 20,000 reserved for holders of advanced degrees from US institutions. Demand continues to far exceed supply, with hundreds of thousands of registrations filed in previous years and similar volumes expected for FY 2027, especially from Indian IT and engineering talent.

For many STEM graduates on F-1 OPT or workers sitting in India and other countries, selection in the H1B lottery remains the main bridge to long-term US employment and, eventually, permanent residence. Because the H-1B visa 2027 registration season now favours higher wage levels, some employers may adjust their salary offers, job levels, or locations to move candidates to stronger wage categories. Others may look more seriously at alternatives like the O1, L1, or Canada/Europe pathways for those who repeatedly fall at lower wage levels.

Practical Checklist for Employers and HR Teams

To avoid last-minute errors during the FY 2027 cap season, HR leaders and immigration teams can use this quick checklist:

1. Confirm all roles are speciality occupations and clearly document job duties.

2. Map each role to a prevailing wage and confirm the correct wage level (I–IV).

3. Prepare accurate salary offers that support the chosen wage level.

4. Gather degree certificates and transcripts, especially for those claiming the US master’s cap.

5. Verify each beneficiary’s passport and keep the same document across any related filings.

6. Set internal deadlines at least 48 hours before March 19, 2026, to buffer for payment or system issues.

Conclusion

The H-1B visa 2027 registration window gives employers a short but critical chance to secure slots under a tougher, weighted lottery. With a fixed window from March 4 to March 19, 2026, a 215 USD registration fee per applicant, and a system that clearly rewards higher wage levels, HR teams need to treat this season as a structured project, not a last-minute formality. For skilled workers, especially from India, careful coordination with employers on roles, wages, and documentation will be essential to stay competitive in this new lottery landscape. For official H-1B visa 2027 registration details and filing instructions, visit the USCIS H-1B Electronic Registration Process page. To know more about the H-1B visa, visit TerraTern now!