U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 H-1B cap initial registration period will open at noon Eastern on March 4, 2026, and close at noon Eastern on March 19, 2026. During this period, U.S. employers and their representatives must submit electronic registrations through a USCIS online account and pay the $215 nonrefundable registration fee per beneficiary.

Employers who do not already have a USCIS online account must create an organizational account before registering beneficiaries. While attorneys and representatives may add employer clients at any time, beneficiary information and fee payments cannot be submitted until March 4. USCIS will conduct the lottery after the registration period closes and expects to issue selection notifications by March 31, 2026, through USCIS online accounts.

As in recent years, USCIS will continue using a beneficiary-centric selection system, meaning each foreign worker will only have one entry in the lottery, even if multiple employers submit registrations for the same individual. An employer may only file an H-1B cap-subject petition if the beneficiary’s registration is selected. This includes beneficiaries eligible for the U.S. master’s degree exemption.

New for FY 2027, USCIS will apply a weighted selection process if the number of unique beneficiaries exceeds the annual cap. Under this system, registrations tied to higher wage levels will have a greater chance of selection than lower wage-level positions. Wage levels are determined based on job duties, location, and experience, ranging from Level I (entry-level) to Level IV (senior-level). If USCIS does not receive enough registrations to meet the cap, all properly submitted registrations will be selected. This new process may face legal challenges, which could affect its implementation.

Employers should also be aware that while the electronic registration process remains unchanged, a September 2025 Presidential Proclamation may require certain petitioners to pay an additional $100,000 fee at the petition stage if their registration is selected, depending on eligibility and future guidance.

Early preparation is critical. Employers should review job details, wage levels, and beneficiary information carefully before registration opens. For guidance on H-1B registration strategy, compliance, and next steps, contact Agarwal Law Group at 703-348-1663.

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