Fiscal Year 2027 H-1B Registration Opens March 4, 2026

By Amelia J. Holstrom - Skoler Abbott P.C.

February 4, 2026

On January 30, 2026, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced the dates for the fiscal year 2027 (“FY 2027”) H-1B Visa lottery. There have been significant changes in lottery selection.  Here is what employers need to know.

What is an H-1B Visa?

An H-1B Visa allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and requires a bachelor’s degree or higher in the worker’s specialty, or its equivalent.  H-1B specialty occupations may include fields such as architecture, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, social sciences, medicine and health, education, business specialties, accounting, law, theology and the arts. H-1B Visas are not available for hourly employees or those without a specialized degree.

What is the Process?

The Initial Registration period for the H-1B Visa lottery will open at 12:00 pm EST on March 4, 2026 and close at 12:00 pm EST on March 19, 2026.  To submit a petition for an H-1B Visa, employers need to pay a $215 fee to register the beneficiary in the USCIS lottery which randomly selects which petitions will be processed.  Employers who do not already have an organizational account with USCIS must register for one here.  Employers who are concerned that they will make a mistake when registering an individual should contact legal counsel for advice or assistance.  A single error is likely to result in automatic non-selection.

As announced by the Department of Homeland Security in its final rule in late 2025, USCIS will implement a new selection process in FY 2027 by prioritizing the allocation of H-1B visas to “higher-skilled and higher paid aliens” who, at a minimum, have a Masters’ degree in the applicable field of work.  Notably, each registration in the lottery will no longer have equal weight.  Each registration will be placed in a single pool.  USCIS will enter those with higher wage levels into the lottery pool more times, increasing their likelihood of being selected.  Employers must not enter multiple registrations for the same individual seeking an H-1B Visa.

Specifically, Wage Level IV registrations will receive 4 entries; Wage Level III will receive 3 entries; Wage Level II will receive 2 entries; and Wage Level I will receive one entry.   As a result, employers must report the Standard Occupational Code (“SOC”), work location, and wage level at time of registration.  Employers should focus on these requirements in February in order to be prepared to submit their registration in March.

After registration for the H-1B Visa lottery has closed, USCIS expects to notify selected prospective petitioners by March 31, 2026.  Thereafter, those petitioners can continue to the next (and much more complicated) step in the H-1B process. Employers should be aware that selection in the lottery does not mean your petition for an H-1B Visa will ultimately be approved. If an employer is not chosen, they remain in the lottery if USCIS opens the lottery again at a later time for the same fiscal year.

If chosen in the lottery, employers only have until June 30, 2026, to file the H-1B Visa petition. This short time frame makes it imperative that employers begin working on gathering the necessary materials early in the application process. If the petition is approved, the individual will be eligible to begin working under the H-1B visa on October 1, 2026.

Could Employers Face Increased Fees?

In September 2025, President Trump issued a Proclamation titled Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers. The Proclamation does not impact the registration process or fees associated with H-1B Visa renewals or transfers. The Proclamation, however, does require employers filing new H-1B petitions to pay a $100,000 fee before filing the H-1B petition as a condition of eligibility if the beneficiary of the Visa is living outside of the U.S.  Employers can read more about that requirement here.

The H-1B Visa process can be challenging to navigate.  If you need assistance, you should speak with experienced employment immigration counsel.

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