FY 2027 H-1B Dates: New Rules & Registration Deadlines

Registration for the FY 2027 H-1B lottery was open from March 4 to March 19, 2026. On March 31, 2026, USCIS confirmed it received enough registrations to satisfy both the H-1B cap and the advanced degree exemption for fiscal year 2027. 

If you’re an applicant or employer trying to figure out where things stand, this page covers the timeline for FY 2027, what changed this year, and what to do next.

When will H-1B lottery results for FY2027 be out?

Results for the H-1B lottery began trickling in on March 27, 2026. USCIS intends to notify employers by the end of the month, so more selections could be announced until then.

Because notices go to the employers’ myUSCIS account, you won’t directly know if you’ve been chosen. Check with them or your attorney directly to find out if you won the H-1B lottery this year.

• If you were selected, congratulations! But it’s important to remember, winning means you’re eligible to file, not approved. You’re employer still has to file the H-1B petition. Learn more about what to do after H-1B lottery selection here.
• If you were not selected, try not to panic. As our attorney Avalon Paul says: “Take a step back from the ledge and assess where you are now.” You still have options. Read more about what to do if you’re not selected in the lottery here.

FY 2027 H-1B lottery: Full timeline and key dates at a glance

There are 85,000 cap-subject H-1B visas available each year: 65,000 under the regular cap and 20,000 additional visas under the master’s cap for people with a qualifying U.S. master’s degree or higher. If your employer has entered you in the lottery, here’s the timeline that matters right now.

• January to February 2026 (Employer prep): Employers identify candidates, finalize job descriptions, work sites, and offered wages, and determine likely selection weighting.
• February 27, 2026 (Rule effective date): The new wage-weighted selection system took effect for the FY 2027 season.
• March 4 to March 19, 2026 (Electronic registration): The registration period opened at noon Eastern on March 4 and closes at noon Eastern on March 19.
• Late March 2026 (Lottery selection announcement): USCIS is expected to notify selected registrants through online accounts by March 31.
• April 1 to June 30, 2026 (Petition filing window): Selected employers have a 90-day window to file full H-1B petitions.
• October 1, 2026 (Earliest employment start date): This is the first day approved cap-subject H-1B workers can begin employment for FY 2027.
  

If you’re waiting to learn whether you were selected in the lottery, find out how to check your H-1B lottery result.

What changed for FY 2027

This year’s lottery season includes several changes that employers and workers should know before registration closes. The biggest shift is that selection is no longer purely random.

Wage-weighted selection

Under the new system, higher wage levels get more entries in the lottery. Your wage level depends on how your salary compares to others doing similar work in the same area, based on Department of Labor data.

The weighting applies to both the regular cap and the master’s cap. 

Higher wages may improve selection odds, but they do not guarantee selection. Employers still need to make sure the wage level, job description, worksite, and SOC code entered at registration match the final petition.

The key is for an employer to select the SOC code that best matches the job duties of a role. Rather than selecting something generic, like “software developer,” for example, make sure to select the code that is the best match. That might end up being something different, such as “software quality analyst” or “database architect.”

Increased applicant vetting

The government is tightening oversight through Project Firewall, an initiative involving multiple agencies checking for fraud by employers. Additionally, the Department of State now requires H-1B applicants to make their social media profiles available for review. 

The H-1B $100,000 fee

A $100,000 fee now applies to certain H-1B petitions. This fee is required if the worker is outside the U.S. and does not have a valid visa. Most filings for a change of status, such as a student in the U.S. moving from F-1 to H-1B, are not subject to this fee. 

How to prepare for the H-1B cap season: Employer checklist

Because wage level now affects selection odds, employers should make sure they can defend registration details if selected to submit a full H-1B petition.

Preparing as an employer

Companies should begin preparing early to ensure all data is accurate.

• Audit roles: Identify candidates who need a cap-subject H-1B.
• Verify wages and locations: Determine the correct Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) wage level based on the job duties and location.
• Draft job descriptions: Finalize specialty occupation job descriptions to support the wage level.
• Confirm the worksite and SOC code used at registration are the same details you can support in the final filing.

Preparing as an employee or student

If you are an F-1 student on optional practical training (OPT) or a prospective employee, you must ensure your documents are ready before March.

• Gather records: Collect your passport ID page, all prior I-20s, and your most recent I-94 record.
• Confirm degrees: Obtain official transcripts or a registrar’s letter confirming you’ve met all graduation requirements.
• Coordinate with employer: Ensure human resources has your updated resume and current visa stamp information.
• If you may qualify for the master’s cap, make sure your employer or legal team has the documents needed to confirm your eligibility.

2026-2027 H-1B lottery preparation checklist

For more details, read our full guide to H-1B lottery registration.

Cap-exempt employers: Does the lottery apply to you?

Not every employer has to go through the H-1B lottery. Cap-exempt employers can usually file H-1B petitions year-round without competing for one of the 85,000 cap-subject visas. Common examples include universities and colleges, nonprofit research organizations, government research agencies, and some nonprofits affiliated with universities, such as certain teaching hospitals.

If your employer may be cap-exempt, the March lottery timeline may not apply to you in the same way. See more details on cap-exempt employers.

Next steps after registration

Once registration is submitted, the next milestone is late March, when USCIS is expected to notify selected registrants through online accounts. If you’re selected, your employer will move into the petition-filing step, and that window runs from April 1 to June 30. If you’re not selected, it may be time to consider alternatives or plan for the next lottery cycle.

Help preparing for the H-1B lottery

The H-1B lottery is complex and has undergone big changes over the past year. Working with an experienced legal team helps ensure your paperwork is accurate and on time.

At Manifest Law, our attorneys can guide you through every step of the visa process. Whether you’re entering the lottery, have been selected, or are looking for alternatives like the O-1 visa, we can help.

👉 Request a consultation with Manifest Law’s experienced immigration lawyers now. 

Frequently asked questions

When will I know if I was selected?

USCIS is expected to notify selected registrants in late March, typically through online accounts by March 31.

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

For FY 2027 (the H-1B lottery held in early 2026), a second round would only occur if the initial registration window doesn’t yield enough filed petitions to meet the 85,000 limit. In recent years, the number of petitions has far surpassed the cap limit.

What do prior denials mean for FY 2027?

On their own, prior denials don’t prevent you from entering the H-1B lottery again. But the lottery only takes place once a year, so your options may still be limited by your current work authorization, such as STEM OPT.

What is the 240-day rule for H-1B?

The H-1B 240-day rule is not related to the lottery. This rule allows you to continue working for your current employer for up to 240 days if your H-1B extension application was filed on time and is still pending with USCIS. This work authorization can end earlier if the government denies the case or you max out your nonimmigrant status sooner.

Should employers increase wages for better odds of selection?

Increasing an employee’s salary can potentially improve lottery odds, but only if the raise is legitimate and matches the job’s actual duties. If the government determines that a salary was inflated to game the lottery, it may deny the petition.