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H-1B visa selection for FY27 complete: What to do next?
01 Apr 2026

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has concluded the selection process for H-1B visas for fiscal year 2027.

The annual cap of 85,000 visas was reached during the registration period.

USCIS has notified all the employers about their selected candidates and petition filings will now start from today.

Weighted lottery system introduced this year
System change

This year, the Department of Homeland Security introduced a weighted lottery system for the H-1B selection process.

This new system gives preference to applicants with higher wages, as per the Department of Labor's four-level Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics scale.

This is a major shift from the previous random selection process.

About the H-1B visa program
Program overview

The H-1B program is designed for US firms to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations.

Each year, it issues 65,000 visas under the regular cap and an additional 20,000 for applicants with advanced degrees from US institutions.

Selected candidates can file their petitions between April 1 and June 30, 2026.

Shift toward wage-based model in selection process
Model shift

The H-1B selection process is moving toward a wage-based model, where the applicants with higher salaries and skills are prioritized.

This change is aimed at aligning visa allocation with labor market needs and reducing system misuse.

A significant fee component has also been brought, charging $100,000 in certain cases when employers sponsor foreign workers.

USCIS provides guidance on cap petitions
Petition requirements

The USCIS has specified that H-1B cap petitions must include identifying and position information as per the selected registration.

Petitioners are also ordered to submit evidence of the beneficiary's valid passport or travel document used during registration.

Evidence supporting the basis of wage level selected on registration date should also be provided with these petitions.