The H-1B Cap Initial Registration for the 2027 fiscal year will open on March 4 at 12 pm EST and close on March 19, 2026, at 12 pm EST. Those selected in the cap “lottery” will be eligible to file an H-1B petition and begin employment on October 1, 2026.
How H-1B Cap Registration Works
- Prospective employer petitioners and their attorneys must use a USCIS account to register each prospective employee beneficiary
- Employers can create their account before March 4, but cannot register employees until noon on March 4
- Employers must pay the $215 registration fee for each prospective employee
- USCIS will issue selection notifications by March 31, 2026, via users’ online USCIS accounts
Important Updates for the 2027 Fiscal Year Cap Season
- USCIS will conduct a weighted selection, giving more entries to prospective employees paid higher wage levels
- Employees selected in the cap may be subject to an additional $100,000 fee when applying for their H-1B from abroad
What These Updates Could Mean For Your Business
- If your employees are currently in the U.S, there may be a higher chance of selection this year than in previous years
- We may see fewer H-1B cap registrations overall this year due to the $100,000 fee imposed on selected beneficiaries abroad
- If your employees are paid a higher wage level, they will receive more entries in the lottery, further increasing their chances of selection
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the skilled attorneys at Murray Osorio to help your business navigate the updated H-1B registration process this year.