- USCIS is posting FY2027 H-1B lottery results in myUSCIS accounts with a target of March 31, 2026 — no email or mail notifications are sent.
- This is the first year under the wage-weighted 4-3-2-1 selection system, replacing the old random lottery and giving higher-paid positions significantly better odds.
- Registrations dropped an estimated 40% compared to FY2026, potentially improving selection rates for those who did register.
USCIS has begun releasing FY2027 H-1B lottery selection results inside petitioners’ myUSCIS accounts, with the process expected to wrap up by March 31, 2026. This year’s results carry added significance because it is the first cap season governed by the wage-weighted selection system — a fundamental change in how the United States decides who gets an H-1B visa.
Under the new rules finalized by the Department of Homeland Security on December 29, 2025, selections are no longer purely random. Each registration is now weighted by the prevailing wage level offered for the position. A Level IV (fully competent) wage earns four entries in the pool, Level III earns three, Level II earns two, and Level I earns just one. The result is that employers offering higher salaries have meaningfully better odds of selection.
The FY2027 registration window ran from March 4 through March 19, 2026. Initial estimates from immigration attorneys suggest total registrations fell by approximately 40 percent from last year, dropping from about 336,000 unique beneficiaries in FY2026 to an estimated 200,000 to 250,000. USCIS has not released official figures yet.
For the roughly quarter-million employers, attorneys, and beneficiaries waiting on outcomes, the next few days are critical. Here is everything you need to know about this year’s results, what the new system means for your odds, and how to move forward whether you were selected or not.
As noted in our detailed coverage of the USCIS announcement, results are appearing in waves — not all at once. Continue checking daily through early April.
FY2027 Selection Timeline
How the Wage-Weighted Lottery Changed the Odds
The most consequential change for FY2027 is the end of the random lottery. Since the H-1B cap was introduced, every eligible registration had an equal chance of selection. That is no longer the case. The new system, formalized in a final rule published in December 2025, assigns a weight to each registration based on the Department of Labor’s four-tier prevailing wage scale.
The government’s rationale is straightforward: positions offering higher wages are more likely to be genuinely specialized roles that the domestic labor market cannot fill. By giving these registrations more entries in the pool, USCIS aims to ensure the 85,000 annual slots go to positions of highest value. For a deeper analysis of what this means for employers and workers, see our coverage of the wage-based selection system and its implications.
Why Registrations Dropped 40 Percent
The decline from approximately 336,000 unique beneficiaries in FY2026 to an estimated 200,000–250,000 in FY2027 is one of the steepest year-over-year drops in the program’s recent history. Several factors contributed.
- Wage-weighted deterrence — employers offering Level I wages now face roughly a 15% selection chance, down from the ~35% rate under the old random system. Many decided the odds no longer justified the filing costs and effort.
- The $100,000 consular processing fee — a new presidential proclamation imposes a $100,000 fee on H-1B petitions where the beneficiary is abroad and entering through consular processing. This cost has forced employers to rethink their hiring strategies.
- AI-powered fraud detection — USCIS deployed new AI screening tools to identify and block coordinated or duplicate submissions. Entities that previously inflated registration counts through related shell companies are being caught.
- Broader enforcement climate — heightened scrutiny of immigration petitions and increased RFE (Request for Evidence) rates have raised the perceived risk and cost of filing.
If You Were Selected: Next Steps and Deadlines
A “Selected” status in your myUSCIS account means the employer may now file a full Form I-129 petition with USCIS. The filing window opens on April 1, 2026, and closes on June 30, 2026. This is a hard deadline — USCIS does not grant extensions for cap-subject petitions.
The $100,000 Fee: What It Covers and Who Is Exempt
One of the biggest surprises of the FY2027 cap season is a $100,000 fee that applies to certain new H-1B petitions. The fee, introduced through a presidential proclamation, targets cases where the beneficiary is outside the United States and will enter through consular processing. The employer bears the full cost and cannot pass it to the employee.
The fee does not apply to:
- Change of status — F-1 students and other nonimmigrants already in the U.S. switching to H-1B
- H-1B extensions — workers already in H-1B status renewing their stay
- H-1B transfers — switching employers while maintaining H-1B status
- Amendments — changes to existing H-1B terms (worksite, job duties, etc.)
- Beneficiaries abroad who already hold a valid H-1B visa
In practice, this fee primarily affects companies hiring workers from overseas offices or foreign universities who have never held H-1B status. It has been a significant driver of the registration decline, especially among IT services firms that rely heavily on consular processing.
If You Were Not Selected: Options and Alternatives
A “Not Selected” status is disappointing but not necessarily final. USCIS has conducted additional selection rounds in recent years — including FY2025 and FY2026 — when initial selections did not produce enough filed petitions to fill all 85,000 slots. With registrations down sharply this year, a second round is a real possibility, likely between July and October 2026. For a detailed analysis of when and why this happens, see our article on the possibility of additional H-1B lottery rounds.
Beyond waiting for a second round, there are several viable alternatives.
- Cap-exempt employers — universities, nonprofit research organizations, and government research labs are not subject to the 85,000 cap. No lottery required.
- O-1 visa (Extraordinary Ability) — for individuals with a record of extraordinary achievement in their field. No annual cap.
- L-1 visa (Intracompany Transfer) — for workers moving from an overseas office to a U.S. office of the same company.
- E-3 visa — exclusively for Australian nationals in specialty occupations.
- TN visa — for Canadian and Mexican professionals under the USMCA agreement.
- F-1 OPT / STEM OPT extension — eligible students can continue working under OPT while waiting for next year’s lottery.
For a comprehensive breakdown of fallback strategies, read our guide on five legal options if you were not selected.
Complete Fee Breakdown for FY2027 H-1B Petitions
Filing an H-1B petition involves multiple fees across different stages. The total cost varies significantly depending on employer size and whether the beneficiary is in the U.S. or abroad.
What to Watch in the Coming Months
The FY2027 cap season is far from over. Several developments could reshape the landscape between now and October.
- Official USCIS statistics — once released, the actual registration count and selection rate will clarify whether the estimated 40% drop holds. This data typically comes within weeks of the filing window opening.
- Legal challenges — no court has blocked the wage-weighted rule as of March 27, 2026, but litigation is possible. An injunction could theoretically force USCIS to revert to random selection for a second round.
- Second lottery round — if filed petitions fall short of 85,000, USCIS will select more registrations. With fewer registrations and the $100,000 fee deterring some employers from filing even after selection, a second round is likely.
- Prevailing wage methodology changes — the DOL has proposed updates to how wage levels are calculated. If finalized, this could shift which positions qualify at each tier in future years.
- AI fraud screening outcomes — USCIS is using AI to screen registrations for the first time. Expect more “Invalidated” and “Denied” statuses than in prior years as this technology flags suspicious patterns.
