Selected in H-1B Lottery? Myuscis Shows USCIS Filing Next Steps

(UNITED STATES) — USCIS has completed the initial FY 2027 H-1B Lottery as of March 30, 2026, with selection notices appearing in myUSCIS accounts since March 27 and final notifications expected by March 31.

For employers and beneficiaries, a “Selected” status means the case cleared registration. It does not mean the worker has H-1B status yet. The employer must still file a full cap-subject petition, prove the job qualifies as a specialty occupation, secure a certified Labor Condition Application, and submit the petition on time.

USCIS is still using the one-registration-per-beneficiary framework. That rule limits duplicate chances for the same person, even if multiple employers register that beneficiary.

📅 Key Date: Selection notices began posting on March 27, 2026. USCIS expects the initial notification process to finish by March 31, 2026.

FY 2027 H-1B cap timeline

If your registration is marked “Selected,” the filing clock starts April 1. USCIS must receive the petition by June 30, 2026. Mailing by that date is not enough.

If your status remains “Submitted,” you were not chosen in the initial round, but you remain in the pool. USCIS may run another selection later if enough employers do not file.

What selection means in practical terms

A selection notice gives the employer permission to file one H-1B cap petition for that beneficiary. It also identifies the filing location and case details.

The notice does not waive normal petition requirements. USCIS will still review:

• Whether the job is a specialty occupation
• Whether the degree field matches the role
• Whether the wage level supports the job duties
• Whether the employer-employee relationship is documented
• Whether the filing includes the correct fees and forms

That matters most for Level I wage cases. USCIS has closely reviewed entry-level roles, broad job descriptions, and positions tied to unrelated degrees.

⚠️ Employer Alert: A selected registration can still be denied if the petition shows a weak specialty occupation case, mismatched degree field, or improper wage level.

FY 2027 policy changes affecting this cap season

This cap season includes several changes with real filing consequences.

First, the government has introduced wage-based weighted selection. Higher-paid registrations received better priority. Level IV wages were favored. Level I cases faced lower odds.

That change makes wage planning more important than in prior years. Employers should confirm the right SOC code, worksite, and prevailing wage level before filing. Workers should verify that the offered salary meets at least the required wage for the area.

The prevailing wage must meet the higher of the actual wage or the prevailing wage for the occupation and location. Wage levels generally break down this way:

Second, a $100,000 fee now applies to certain petitions using consular processing for beneficiaries outside the United States. The source guidance says most change of status cases filed for workers already in the United States are generally exempt.

Third, premium processing increased to $2,965 on March 1, 2026.

How FY 2027 compares with the last cycle

USCIS has not yet released full FY 2027 registration totals in this update. That means the final selection rate is still unclear.

For context, the prior cap season drew very heavy demand. The FY 2026 lottery received about 442,000 registrations. USCIS selected roughly 120,000 registrations to fill the 85,000 cap numbers, producing an approximate 27% selection rate.

The cap itself remains unchanged:

The main difference this year is not the cap size. It is the selection method and the heavier focus on wage level.

Immediate next steps for selected employers and employees

Selected cases should move quickly. The filing window is short, and the petition package is document-heavy.

1. Download the selection notice

The employer or attorney should download the PDF from myUSCIS. Review the beneficiary name, filing period, and service center instructions.

2. File the Labor Condition Application

The employer must submit the LCA to the Department of Labor before filing Form I-129. Certification usually takes about seven business days.

3. Prepare the FY 2027 Form I-129 package

The petition should include detailed job duties, degree requirements, worksite information, wage data, and evidence that the role qualifies as a specialty occupation.

4. Confirm the fee package

For many cap-subject filings, the main fees include the filing fee, ACWIA fee, fraud fee, and optional premium fee. Some employers may also face the $100,000 consular processing charge.

If the $100,000 charge applies, payment must be made through Pay.gov, with proof attached to the filing.

💼 Employee Tip: Ask for the job title, SOC code, worksite location, wage level, and whether the employer will request change of status or consular processing.

Official statements shaping FY 2027

USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou stated on January 30, 2026 that the revised process prioritizes higher-skilled and higher-paid individuals. That aligns with the wage-weighted system now affecting selection results.

DHS guidance issued on October 20, 2025 also clarified the scope of the $100,000 fee. The guidance states it applies to new H-1B petitions for certain beneficiaries outside the United States.

What if you were not selected?

A “Submitted” status means the registration stays active. It is not a denial.

If USCIS receives too few petitions by June 30, 2026, it may run a second lottery in July or August 2026. That has happened in prior years when filing rates were lower than expected.

If no second round occurs, workers should review other visa paths:

• Cap-exempt H-1B with universities or nonprofit research organizations
• O-1 for extraordinary ability
• TN for qualified Canadian and Mexican professionals
• L-1 for intracompany transferees
• STEM OPT extensions, if available and timing allows

For FY 2028, employers should expect registration to reopen in March 2027, unless USCIS announces a different schedule.

⏰ Deadline: Selected FY 2027 cap petitions must reach USCIS by June 30, 2026. Approved cap cases may start work no earlier than October 1, 2026.

Employers should start the LCA now, confirm the wage level, and review whether the $100,000 fee applies before filing. Employees should confirm the petition strategy, check that the degree field matches the job, and verify the offered pay against flcdatacenter.com. Both sides should watch myUSCIS through March 31, 2026, track the April 1 to June 30 filing window, and monitor official updates through the USCIS H-1B pages and newsroom.

📋 Official Resources:

• H-1B Program: uscis.gov/h-1b-specialty-occupations
• Cap Season: uscis.gov/h-1b-cap-season
• Prevailing Wages: flcdatacenter.com