- USCIS will finalize FY 2027 selection notices by March 31, 2026, using the beneficiary-centric lottery system.
- Selected employers must file full petitions between April and June for October 1 start dates.
- New York remains a top H-1B hub for software engineers, consultants, and financial analysts.
(NEW YORK) — USCIS is expected to complete first-round FY 2027 H-1B cap selection notices by March 31, 2026, closing the registration phase for jobs that can start on October 1, 2026.
This year’s cap season continues under the beneficiary-centric selection system. That rule gives each beneficiary one chance in the lottery, even if several employers register the same person. For employers, that reduces duplicate filings. For workers, it changes how odds are measured across sponsors.
Last year offers the clearest benchmark. In the FY 2026 cap season, USCIS received about 442,000 eligible registrations and selected roughly 120,000 registrations to fill the 85,000 cap numbers. That placed the initial selection rate near 27%.
FY 2027 H-1B cap timeline
| FY 2027 Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration Opens | Early March 2026 |
| Registration Closes | Mid-to-late March 2026 |
| Selection Notification | By March 31, 2026 |
| Filing Window Opens | April 1, 2026 |
| Filing Window Closes | June 30, 2026 |
| Earliest Employment Start | October 1, 2026 |
📅 Key Date: Employers selected in the FY 2027 cap should prepare full petitions for filing between April 1 and June 30, 2026.
The annual cap remains 65,000 under the regular cap and 20,000 under the U.S. master’s cap. Cap-exempt employers, including many universities and nonprofit research institutions, can still file year-round.
What the March 31 update means
If a registration is selected, the employer may file the H-1B petition during the named filing period. Selection alone does not grant H-1B status. USCIS still reviews the case for specialty occupation, employer-employee relationship, wage compliance, and beneficiary qualifications.
If a registration is not selected, it remains unchosen unless USCIS later runs another round. That can happen if enough selected employers do not file.
⚠️ Employer Alert: A selected registration does not excuse weak job descriptions or low wage planning. USCIS still reviews whether the role qualifies as a specialty occupation.
New York sponsor activity remains concentrated
New York remains one of the busiest H-1B markets. Recent FY 2026 LCA filing data shows large employers still driving sponsorship volume in consulting, engineering, finance, and data roles.
| Rank | Company | Recent NY LCA Filings | Common Roles | Reported Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ernst & Young US LLP | 1,657 | Consulting, advisory, tech | $156,844 |
| 2 | Amazon.com Services LLC | 1,013 | Software, cloud, data | $140,000-$175,600 |
| 3 | Google LLC | 909 | Engineering, AI, product | $175,500 |
| 4 | Meta Platforms Inc. | 762 | Engineering, data science | $184,689 |
| 5 | JPMorgan Chase* | Heavy NY activity | Banking tech, quant | Comparable high-six-figure roles |
*JPMorgan Chase reported 2,440 national filings or approvals in recent reporting and remains a major New York sponsor.
The top three names stand out. Ernst & Young US LLP remains a major filer because consulting projects often require specialized business, accounting, and technology roles. Amazon.com Services LLC and Google LLC continue to file heavily for software engineering, cloud, and AI positions.
New York also has smaller filers with high pay. Examples include Kirkland & Ellis, Moelis & Company Group, Rokt, Stripe, and HRT Research. Those employers often file fewer LCAs, but their offered wages can exceed the citywide average by a wide margin.
Roles most often sponsored in New York
The New York market is not limited to software jobs. The most common sponsored roles include:
- Software engineers
- Data scientists
- Financial analysts
- IT consultants
- Quantitative researchers
- Healthcare specialists
- Specialized dental roles, including endodontists
That mix matters in lottery season. USCIS reviews whether the position normally requires at least a bachelor’s degree in a specific specialty. Broad titles alone are not enough. A software engineer case usually has a cleaner specialty occupation argument than a loosely defined business role.
Finance and consulting employers must be careful here. Titles such as “analyst” or “consultant” need detailed duties, degree requirements, and wage logic. Third-party placements also remain a review point.
Wage levels matter more than ever
USCIS continues to examine lower-paid H-1B filings, especially where the employer claims a complex professional job but uses a Level I wage. Employers must pay at least the higher of the prevailing wage or actual wage.
| Wage Level | Typical Experience | NYC Salary Range | Reported NYC Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | 0-2 years | $50,000-$140,000 | $87,939 |
| Level II | 2-5 years | $76,960-$199,000 | $123,656 |
| Level III | 5-10 years | $110,000-$300,000 | $175,500 |
| Level IV | 6+ years | $115,000-$1,000,000 | $184,689 |
New York’s overall H-1B salary snapshot also shows a wide spread. The citywide average is about $102,434 per year, or $49.25 per hour. The 25th percentile sits near $80,902. The 75th percentile reaches about $124,086. Top earners run around $155,244, with some cases reaching $179,843 or more.
💼 Employee Tip: Ask for the SOC code, wage level, and work location before filing. Those three items drive the prevailing wage analysis.
For employers, salary planning should begin before registration. A low wage can weaken a specialty occupation case. That is especially true for entry-level jobs in expensive markets such as New York City.
Industry patterns beyond tech
Finance remains one of New York’s largest H-1B users. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and JPMorgan regularly sponsor quant, engineering, and financial technology roles.
Healthcare also remains active. NYU Langone, Mount Sinai, and Regeneron continue to sponsor physicians, researchers, and specialized scientific staff. Some of those organizations may qualify as cap-exempt or cap-adjacent, depending on structure and affiliation.
Nationally, New York activity mirrors broader trends. Amazon remains one of the largest H-1B users, with about 12,391 approvals in FY 2025. Tata Consultancy Services also remains a major national filer, with around 5,509.
What happens next after selection
Selected employers should move quickly on four items:
- Finalize the job title and detailed duties.
- Confirm the SOC code and prevailing wage.
- File the Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor.
- Prepare the full Form I-129 package before the filing deadline.
Current standard filing fees usually include:
| Fee | Amount | Required |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | $215 | Yes |
| I-129 Filing | $780 | Yes |
| ACWIA | $750-$1,500 | Yes |
| Fraud Prevention | $500 | Yes |
| Premium Processing | $2,805 | No |
Employees who are selected should review the petition draft. Confirm the worksite, title, salary, degree match, and whether third-party placement documents are included.
Options for those not selected
Workers not chosen in the lottery still have options. The best path depends on the employer, job history, and field.
- Cap-exempt H-1B with a university or qualifying nonprofit
- O-1 for individuals with documented high achievement
- L-1 for intracompany transferees with qualifying overseas employment
- TN for eligible Canadian and Mexican professionals
- STEM OPT extension, if available
- A later H-1B filing if USCIS runs another selection round
⏰ Deadline: If a beneficiary is on F-1 OPT, review work authorization dates now. Cap-gap protection applies only if a timely, eligible change-of-status petition is filed.
Looking ahead to FY 2028
If USCIS keeps the same calendar, employers should expect FY 2028 registration in March 2027, with selections released by late March and filing from April through June 2027. The beneficiary-centric rule is likely to remain in place.
Employers should begin wage review and job classification in January 2027. Employees should gather degree records, transcripts, and credential evaluations before registration opens.
📋 Official Resources: – H-1B Program: uscis.gov/h-1b-specialty-occupations – Cap Season: uscis.gov/h-1b-cap-season – Prevailing Wages: flcdatacenter.com
Employers should file selected FY 2027 cases as early as April 1, 2026, confirm wages before the LCA, and document specialty occupation duties with precision. Employees should verify the offered salary, SOC code, and work location now, track any OPT expiration dates, and monitor their employer’s USCIS account for selection and filing updates.
