H-1B Cap for FY 2027 Met, USCIS Reports

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that it has received enough unique registrations to fill the H-1B cap and its advanced degree exemption for fiscal year 2027.

On March 31, 2026, the federal agency announced that it has notified all selected registrants through their employers’ myUSCIS portal. Starting April 1, employers have about 90 days to file Form I-129 on behalf of selected H-1B beneficiaries.

Will there be a second H-1B lottery in 2026?

Even though USCIS says the H-1B cap has been met for FY 2027, Manifest senior immigration attorney Henry Lindpere says a second lottery may be possible. “For any reason, an employer may decide to not file Form I-129 on behalf of a selected foreign worker,” he says. “If this occurs, their lottery picks go back into the pool and USCIS may conduct a second lottery so that remaining registrants can secure those spots.”

According to Lindpere, registrations not selected this lottery cycle will continue to show up as “Submitted” until USCIS determines it has truly met its yearly H-1B cap. For those H-1B hopefuls who have not yet been selected, this means that there is still a chance they may win in another lottery round later this summer. The status of a registration is not likely to change to “Not Selected” until USCIS has received petitions for enough beneficiaries to meet the annual cap.

What H-1B registrants and employers should do next 

If you’re an employer and any of your prospective foreign workers were selected in this year’s H-1B lottery, you may file an I-129 petition as soon as April 1. Petitioners can find their specific deadline within the myUSCIS notice itself. 

If you haven’t received your H-1B lottery results, Urizar says this doesn’t mean you lost your chance this year. However, she recommends exploring alternative work visas like the O-1 as a backup plan.

Manifest Law’s immigration attorneys work with employees and their employers to identify strategic H-1B alternatives. Request a consultation today to explore your options.