The H-1B cap season for FY 2027 is approaching. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially announced the opening and closing dates for the initial registration period.
The H-1B registration will open on March 4, 2026, at noon Eastern Time.
The last date to submit registrations is March 19, 2026, at noon Eastern Time.
H-1B Registration and Selection Timeline
Once the registration window closes on March 19, USCIS will begin the selection process.
Applicants whose registrations are selected will be notified through their USCIS online accounts.
Selection notices will be sent to employers and representatives who have at least one selected registration.
Only employers whose registrations are selected will be allowed to file H-1B cap-subject petitions.
How the Initial Registration Process Works
Between March 4 and March 19, employers and their representatives must:
Use a USCIS online account
Register each beneficiary electronically
Pay a $215 registration fee per beneficiary
Employers who do not already have a USCIS online account must create an organizational account.
While representatives can add company clients at any time, beneficiary details can only be entered starting March 4.
USCIS allows only one registration per beneficiary per employer.
Filing an H-1B petition is permitted only if the registration is selected.
The FY 2027 registration window will remain open for 15 days, meeting the minimum requirement set by USCIS.
New Wage-Based H-1B Selection System
A major change has been introduced for the FY 2027 H-1B cap season.
The Department of Homeland Security has implemented a wage-based selection process.
Under the new system, higher-paid and higher-skilled applicants will be given priority.
The goal is to protect U.S. workers’ wages, job opportunities, and working conditions.
If USCIS receives more registrations than the visa cap allows, it will conduct a weighted selection based on wage levels.
If registrations do not exceed the cap, all valid registrations will be selected.
$100,000 H-1B Petition Fee Introduced
Another major change is the introduction of a $100,000 H-1B petition fee.
Following a presidential proclamation issued on September 19, 2025, employers whose registrations are selected may be required to pay this additional fee before filing the H-1B petition.
This fee applies to:
All employers hiring foreign workers through the FY 2027 H-1B lottery
H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025
While the fee does not affect the registration process, it becomes mandatory at the petition filing stage.
What This Means for Employers and Applicants
The FY 2027 H-1B cap season brings significant changes, including wage-based selection and a high petition fee.
Employers and applicants should prepare early, understand the new rules, and plan carefully before registering.
Staying informed and acting within the registration window will be key to navigating the H-1B 2027 cap season successfully.
