(UNITED STATES) — USCIS announced on March 31, 2026, that it completed the FY 2027 H-1B Initial Registration selection process and reached both the regular cap and the advanced degree exemption.

The agency said it received enough registrations for unique beneficiaries to fill the 65,000 regular cap and 20,000 master’s cap numbers. Employers with selected beneficiaries may begin filing an H-1B cap-subject petition on April 1, 2026.

This year’s process matters for two reasons. First, USCIS confirmed selection notices are now available in registrants’ online accounts. Second, FY 2027 used a wage-weighted selection process, rather than a purely random lottery.

Early estimates place total FY 2027 registrations at 200,000 to 220,000. That is well below recent cycles. If those estimates hold, the implied selection rate is roughly 34% to 42%.

? Key Date: USCIS begins accepting FY 2027 H-1B cap-subject petitions on April 1, 2026. The filing period must remain open for at least 90 days.

FY 2027 H-1B cap numbers

Congress set the H-1B annual limit at 85,000 total for cap-subject cases.

The advanced degree exemption applies to certain beneficiaries with qualifying U.S. master’s or higher degrees. Selection under either category allows filing only. It does not guarantee approval.

USCIS still requires the full petition record. Employers must prove the job qualifies as a specialty occupation, the wage is proper, and the worker meets the degree or equivalent standard.

FY 2027 timeline

Employers should not wait until June. Labor Condition Application timing, internal signatures, and document collection can still delay filing.

What changed this year

USCIS stated that FY 2027 used a weighted selection process. The stated goal is to favor higher-skilled and higher-paid positions.

That policy shift likely affected both registration volume and selection odds. Fewer low-wage filings appear to have entered the pool. A smaller pool generally improves the chances for each valid registration.

For comparison, FY 2026 reportedly drew about 442,000 registrations. Against that level, the estimated 200,000 to 220,000 FY 2027 volume marks a sharp drop.

The one-registration-per-beneficiary framework still matters. Multiple employers may register the same person, but USCIS treats selection around the beneficiary, not duplicate chances from repeated entries.

What selected employers must do next

Selection only creates eligibility to file. It does not approve work authorization.

Starting April 1, 2026, the petitioner may file only if the case matches the selected registration. USCIS said petition details must align with the registration, including SOC code, offered wage, and beneficiary identity.

Only the 02/27/26 edition of Form I-129 will be accepted for FY 2027 cap filings starting April 1. Older editions risk rejection.

Petitioners also must include the applicable selection notice. USCIS allows filing at the proper filing location or online through my.uscis.gov.

⚠️ Employer Alert: A selected registration is not enough by itself. The petition must still prove specialty occupation eligibility, proper wage level, and the beneficiary’s qualifications.

Filing checklist for selected cases

Employers should confirm the wage level selected during registration. USCIS specifically said petitioners must provide evidence supporting that wage level as of the registration date.

That point matters because Level I wages often face added scrutiny in specialty occupation cases. Employers should confirm the wage meets at least the prevailing wage for the occupation and worksite area. The DOL wage source is flcdatacenter.com.

Fees and added cost exposure

The registration fee for FY 2027 was $215 per beneficiary. That fee is separate from petition filing costs.

USCIS also noted that certain petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025 may require an added $100,000 payment as a condition of eligibility. Employers should review that issue before filing.

What beneficiaries should check now

Beneficiaries should review status through their employer or legal representative, and in the online account if accessible. USCIS status labels may show Selected, Not Selected, Submitted, or Denied.

A Selected status means the employer may file. A Submitted status usually means the registration remains in reserve if USCIS later needs more filings. A Not Selected status means no filing can be made from that registration.

? Employee Tip: Ask for the registered SOC code, offered salary, worksite location, and wage level before the petition is filed. Those details must stay consistent.

Employees should also confirm their degree field supports the job duties. USCIS often questions cases with broad job descriptions or degrees that do not directly connect to the position.

If you were not selected

A non-selection ends the cap route for this fiscal year, but not every work option.

Possible alternatives include:

• Cap-exempt H-1B with certain universities, nonprofit entities, or research organizations
• O-1 for workers with sustained national or international acclaim
• L-1 for intracompany transferees with qualifying multinational employment
• TN for qualified Canadian and Mexican professionals
• F-1 STEM OPT extensions, if eligible
• Future FY 2028 cap registration

Cap-exempt H-1B cases remain the most practical option for many workers who can move into a university-linked role. Those petitions do not depend on the annual cap and may be filed year-round.

Looking ahead to FY 2028

If USCIS keeps a similar schedule, the next registration period should open in March 2027, with selection notices by late March. Employers that missed FY 2027 should begin job classification and wage review in January 2027.

That planning window matters more after the weighted selection shift. Wage level, SOC code choice, and job requirements now carry even more weight at the front end.

Employers should begin preparing selected FY 2027 cases now. Confirm the I-129 02/27/26 edition, the correct prevailing wage, and a complete filing record before the 90-day window closes. Employees should verify the registered job title, SOC code, wage level, degree fit, and worksite details before submission. The next major date is April 1, 2026, when filing opens for selected beneficiaries, with employment eligible to begin on October 1, 2026. USCIS posting pages for the electronic registration process and the cap season should be checked throughout April for updates.

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