H-1B Lottery 2026-2027: Complete Guide to Deadlines and Fees

The H-1B visa is one of the primary pathways to legal employment in the United States for foreign professionals in specialty occupations. Each year, USCIS conducts a lottery to select candidates when registrations exceed the annual cap, making the process highly competitive. For fiscal year 2027 (FY 2027), significant changes were implemented, including a wage-level weighted selection system and a new $100,000 supplemental fee that substantially alters the landscape for employers and professionals alike.

The electronic registration period for the FY 2027 lottery ran from March 4 to March 19, 2026, with results released by March 31. Employers whose workers were selected have until June 30, 2026, to file Form I-129 petitions. Understanding the rules, fees, deadlines, and alternatives is essential for anyone pursuing this path.

The Annual H-1B Cap

Congress sets the annual H-1B visa limit at 85,000, distributed across two selection rounds. In the first round, 65,000 visas are made available to candidates with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, including 6,800 visas reserved for nationals of Chile and Singapore under free trade agreements.

In the second round, known as the master’s cap, 20,000 additional visas are reserved exclusively for candidates who hold a master’s degree or higher from an accredited U.S. institution. Candidates eligible for the master’s cap participate in both rounds, which effectively increases their selection odds.

Employers tied to institutions of higher education, related nonprofit organizations, or government research organizations are exempt from the cap and may file H-1B petitions at any time without participating in the lottery. Professionals who already hold H-1B status and are changing employers or seeking an extension also do not need to go through the lottery.

Wage-Based Weighted Selection

The most impactful change for FY 2027 is the replacement of the random lottery with a weighted selection system based on wage levels from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). This model assigns more lottery entries to positions with higher wages, favoring more complex and better-compensated roles.

The distribution works as follows: wage level 1 (entry) positions receive one lottery entry; level 2 (qualified) receives two entries; level 3 (experienced) receives three entries; and level 4 (fully competent) receives four entries. This weighting applies to both the regular cap and the master’s cap.

An important aspect is that OEWS wage levels vary by location. The same salary may represent level 1 in a high-cost metropolitan area like New York and level 3 in a market like San Antonio, effectively tripling a candidate’s entries. However, employers must ensure that the work location and wage level are consistent with the initial registration and the Labor Condition Application (LCA), or risk denial or revocation.

If the same beneficiary has multiple registrations from different employers, the weighting will be based on the lowest wage level across all registrations. If a salary range is used, the lower end of the range will determine the lottery weight. Employers cannot simply increase the stated salary to gain more entries unless the job duties genuinely correspond to the declared level.

The $100,000 Fee

In effect since September 21, 2025, the $100,000 supplemental fee applies to all new H-1B petitions for beneficiaries who are outside the United States or who require consular processing. This fee is the employer’s responsibility and represents a significant financial barrier for international hires.

The fee generally does not apply to professionals who are already in the United States in valid status and are requesting a change of status, such as a transition from F-1 (OPT) to H-1B. This creates a significant financial advantage for candidates who maintain lawful status in the U.S., since a change of status avoids the need for consular processing and, consequently, the supplemental fee.

This fee is expected to significantly reduce the volume of lottery registrations, with estimates ranging between 250,000 and 330,000 submissions. The reduction in competition may proportionally benefit registered candidates, particularly those in higher wage-level positions.

H-1B Process Costs

The H-1B process involves several mandatory fees, most of which are the employer’s responsibility. The table below summarizes the primary costs in effect for FY 2027.

Premium processing reduces the petition review timeline to 15 business days, but does not exempt applicants from the cap or guarantee selection in the lottery. The Visa Integrity Fee is charged only at consular visa issuance and does not apply to status adjustments made within the U.S.

FY 2027 Timeline

1. March 4, 2026, noon Eastern, registration period opens
2. March 19, 2026, noon Eastern, registration period closes
3. March 20-27, 2026, USCIS selection process
4. By March 31, 2026, results released
5. April 1 through June 30, 2026, 90-day window to file petitions

Employers who identify foreign professionals in need of H-1B sponsorship should begin planning well in advance, accounting for documentation preparation, selection of the appropriate Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code, and verification of the OEWS wage level for the intended work location.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for H-1B status, the offered position must qualify as a specialty occupation, which generally requires that the work demands at minimum a bachelor’s degree in a specific field. The degree may be from a U.S. or foreign institution, provided equivalent recognition is established.

Candidates without a university degree may substitute academic credentials with professional experience at a ratio of three years of experience for each year of undergraduate education. Thus, a professional with six years of relevant experience and a two-year higher education program may satisfy the requirement equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.

The employer must demonstrate through the LCA that the H-1B worker will be paid the prevailing wage for the position and location, that the hire will not adversely affect current workers, and that the position is not at a location under a strike or lockout. Failure to meet these requirements may result in a Request for Evidence (RFE) or petition denial.

After Lottery Selection

Selected beneficiaries receive notification through the USCIS organizational accounts. The employer then has the 90-day window to file the Form I-129 petition with all supporting documentation, including an employer support letter, proof of qualifications, and a copy of the certified LCA.

Registrations that remain in “submitted” status after the initial selection continue in the candidate pool for possible additional rounds, should USCIS not receive enough petitions to fill the annual cap. After October 1, unselected registrations move to “not selected” status. Petitions rejected due to documentation errors may be resubmitted, but denials on the merits require more in-depth analysis and potentially a motion to reconsider.

Alternatives to the H-1B

Professionals who are not selected in the H-1B lottery or who do not qualify for the program have other options. The O-1 visa serves professionals with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics and is not subject to an annual cap. The L-1 visa allows intracompany transferees from multinational corporations to their U.S. offices.

The TN visa, available to citizens of Canada and Mexico under the USMCA agreement, provides streamlined access to the U.S. labor market for occupations listed in the treaty. The E-2 visa is designed for investors and entrepreneurs from countries that have a trade treaty with the United States. Each alternative has distinct requirements, limitations, and strategies, and the evaluation should account for the candidate’s professional profile, nationality, and long-term objectives.

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

Leading journalism and editorial content at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps make immigration topics clear, trustworthy, and easy to understand. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.