The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year (FY) 2027 H-1B visa cap will open at noon Eastern Time on March 4, 2026, and close at noon Eastern Time on March 19, 2026. Prospective H-1B cap-subject petitioners and their authorised representatives must submit registrations electronically through a USCIS online account. Each registration carries a $215 fee. Beneficiary details can only be entered and registrations submitted once the window opens.
Selections will take place after the registration period closes, and USCIS intends to notify selected registrants by March 31, 2026. Only petitioners with selected registrations will be eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition, including those applying under the advanced degree exemption.
Weighted Lottery System Introduced
A key change for FY 2027 is the weighted lottery system, effective February 27, 2026. Each registration will receive between one and four “draw entries” based on the prevailing wage level offered. Level IV jobs get four entries, while Level I positions receive only one. This change is intended to prioritise higher-skilled, higher-paid roles and curb speculative low-wage filings.
The total H-1B visa cap remains 85,000, including 20,000 reserved for applicants with US master’s degrees or higher. If registrations exceed this limit, the weighted lottery process will determine selections.
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$100,000 Petition Surcharge Confirmed
USCIS also confirmed a USD 100,000 one-time surcharge on petitions whose registrations are selected. Introduced via a Trump-era proclamation last September, the fee must be paid before filing the H-1B petition as a condition of eligibility. Combined with existing fraud prevention and ACWIA fees, total filing costs may exceed USD 106,000 for many employers.
While the proclamation does not affect the electronic registration process itself, immigration experts note that the weighted lottery and high surcharge could significantly reshape hiring strategies in the US tech sector. Many predict a reduction in mass low-wage filings for FY 2027, with a stronger emphasis on higher-skilled roles.