U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the FY 2027 H-1B cap registration period will run from March 4, 2026 (12:00 PM Eastern) to March 19, 2026 (12:00 PM Eastern), and there will be significant changes for how H-1B registrations will be selected. This electronic registration process is for H-1B petitions that are subject to the 65,000 annual regular quota (plus 20,000 “master’s cap” quota). Employers considering H-1B sponsorship for the upcoming fiscal year should review the information below carefully and begin planning.
During the registration period, prospective H-1B cap-subject petitioners must electronically register each beneficiary through a USCIS online account and pay the $215 registration fee per beneficiary. Employers must have a USCIS organizational account to participate in the registration process. Employers without an existing account can contact our firm if you need assistance with creating an account.
USCIS has indicated that selection notifications are expected to be issued by March 31, 2026, through USCIS online accounts. If a beneficiary’s registration is selected, then they will have 90 days to file Form I-129 H-1B petition with the USCIS.
New for FY 2027: Weighted H-1B Selection Process
For FY 2027, the Department of Homeland Security has implemented a final rule amending regulations for selecting H-1B registrations. If USCIS receives more registrations for unique beneficiaries than the annual cap allows, selections will no longer be purely random. Instead, USCIS will conduct a weighted selection that prioritizes higher-skilled and higher-paid beneficiaries, with the stated goal of better protecting U.S. workers’ wages, working conditions, and job opportunities. Under this new rule, registrants must identify the SOC occupation code, area of intended employment, and highest OEWS wage level met by the proffered wage. USCIS will then apply weighted selection so that beneficiary registrations with salaries that meet or exceed Level IV prevailing wage will have four entries into the lottery, Level III prevailing wage will have 3 entries, Level II prevailing wage will have 2 entries, and Level prevailing wage I will have 1 entry. Importantly, USCIS assigns each beneficiary the lowest applicable wage level across all registrations filed on their behalf, so if a beneficiary has multiple employers filing registrations, their lottery entry will be based on the lowest applicable wage level.
If USCIS does not receive registrations for enough unique beneficiaries to reach the cap, all properly submitted registrations will be selected. This change is expected to significantly affect employer strategy, particularly with respect to wage levels, job classifications, and candidate selection.
Presidential Proclamation and Potential $100,000 Fee
The Presidential Proclamation “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” issued on September 19, 2025, remains in effect. While the proclamation does not directly impact the electronic registration process, it may impose substantial additional costs at the petition filing stage for certain petitions. Employers with a selected registration may be required to pay an additional $100,000 fee as a condition of eligibility to file an H-1B cap petition for certain beneficiaries. Please contact our firm to determine if the proclamation may apply to your particular case.
Given the new selection methodology and potential increased costs, early and strategic planning is essential. LPY Law Group regularly advises employers, startups, and professionals on H-1B strategy, registration, and petition filing, including risk assessment under evolving regulations. With the FY 2027 changes, individualized legal guidance is more important than ever.
For assistance with H-1B cap registration planning or compliance, please contact our office for a free evaluation.