On January 30, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the initial registration period for the 2027 H-1B cap lottery. The registration period will open at noon (ET) on March 4, 2026, and will close at noon (ET) on March 19, 2026.
Quick Hits
- H-1B cap registration will open at noon (ET) on March 4, 2026, and will close at noon (ET) on March 19, 2026.
- The cap registration fee remains unchanged from last year at $215 per registration.
- USCIS plans to notify registrants of their selection by March 31, 2026.
Each fiscal year (FY), 65,000 H-1B visas are made available for qualifying specialty occupation positions—roles requiring at least a bachelor’s degree in a specific specialty. An additional 20,000 H-1B visas are available for individuals who have obtained a master’s degree or higher from an accredited U.S. university. Historically, demand exceeds supply, and USCIS conducts a lottery to allocate the 85,000 H-1Bs that are available.
This year marks the first time that USCIS will use a weighted selection process for the H-1B cap lottery. The new selection process, promulgated as a final rule in December 2025, is designed to prioritize the allocation of H-1Bs to higher-paid and higher-skilled workers.
The FY 2027 registration period is the first to take place after the September 19, 2025, issuance of Presidential Proclamation No. 10973, “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers,” which mandated a $100,000 required payment for certain H-1B petitions.
Next Steps
Employers intending to register employees during the registration period should be aware of the timelines and requirements for the registration process. Registration and selection notifications will take place through USCIS online accounts.
