Immigration & Visas · Tracker
H-1B cap and registration: FY 2027
The registration window, the $215 fee, the weighted selection by wage level and the two caps, from USCIS’s own H-1B registration page.
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The H-1B specialty-occupation visa is capped each fiscal year, and access to the cap runs through an electronic registration that employers file in March. USCIS sets the window, the fee and the selection method, and publishes each on its H-1B electronic registration page.
Two figures have not changed in years: 65,000 visas in the regular cap and 20,000 more reserved for people with a US master’s degree or higher, the advanced-degree exemption. What has changed for FY 2027 is how USCIS picks among registrations when there are too many: selection is weighted by the wage level the offered salary meets. How the H-1B lottery and cap work explains what that means for an employer and a candidate.
Swipe sideways to see every column.
| Item | FY 2027 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Registration window opened | Noon Eastern on March 4 | uscis.gov |
| Registration window closed | 5:00 p.m. Eastern on March 19 | uscis.gov |
| Registration fee | $215 for each registration | uscis.gov |
| Regular cap | 65,000 visas | uscis.gov |
| Advanced-degree exemption (master’s cap) | 20,000 visas for holders of a US master’s degree or higher | uscis.gov |
| Selection method | Weighted selection among registrations for unique beneficiaries, based generally on the highest OEWS wage level the offered wage equals or exceeds | uscis.gov |
| What the registration must state | The highest Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics wage level the beneficiary’s proffered wage equals or exceeds, for the relevant occupation code and area of employment | uscis.gov |
| Cap status | USCIS has received enough petitions to reach both the 65,000 regular cap and the 20,000 advanced-degree exemption for FY 2027 | uscis.gov |
| FY 2028 registration | Expected in March 2027; USCIS announces the window and fee beforehand | uscis.gov |
What to do
- Employers: watch the USCIS page for the FY 2028 window; registration is online and the fee is per registration. Official link
- Candidates: the wage level attached to your offer now affects selection odds, so the salary and occupation code on the registration matter.
Questions readers ask
- When was the H-1B registration period for FY 2027?
- From noon Eastern on March 4 to 5:00 p.m. Eastern on March 19, 2026, at a fee of $215 for each registration. FY 2027 employment begins on October 1, 2026.
- How does the weighted selection work?
- Where a random selection is necessary, USCIS weights it by the highest OEWS wage level that the offered wage equals or exceeds, applied per unique beneficiary. A higher wage level carries more weight in the draw than a lower one for the same occupation and area.
- Are both H-1B caps full for FY 2027?
- Yes. USCIS has received enough petitions to reach the 65,000 regular cap and the 20,000 advanced-degree exemption. Cap-exempt employers, such as universities and affiliated non-profits, can still file.
Dates ahead
- FY 2027 H-1B employment begins
Mentioned:U.S. Citizenship and Immigration ServicesH-1B visa
How we reported this
Built from the documents in the Source Card. FY 2027 rules entered from the USCIS registration page on September 4, 2026; the FY 2028 window is added when USCIS announces it.
Written by Mirza Seraj Baig · Checked against the documents in the source card (editorial standards).
Updates
- FY 2027 rules entered from the USCIS registration page on September 4, 2026; the FY 2028 window is added when USCIS announces it.