The H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027 cycle is shaping up to be the most significant turning point for high-skilled immigration in US history. As we enter early 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has officially finalized the much-anticipated shift from a random selection process to a weighted, wage-based system. This fundamental change will redefine who gets selected and how employers must strategize their registrations.
Table of Contents
- What is the H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027?
- The New Wage-Based Weighted Selection System
- Key Registration Dates for 2026
- Master’s Cap and Selection Odds
- Employer Strategy: The $100,000 Statutory Fee
What is the H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027?
The H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027 refers to the selection process for H-1B visas that will allow beneficiaries to begin employment on October 1, 2026. This visa is designed for “specialty occupations” that require theoretical or technical expertise in a specialized field, such as IT, engineering, mathematics, or medicine.
The annual cap remains fixed at 85,000 visas, which includes a regular cap of 65,000 and a 20,000 reservation for those with a U.S. master’s degree or higher. Because the demand consistently exceeds the supply, the H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027 is the mechanism used by USCIS to manage the volume of registrations.
The New Wage-Based Weighted Selection System
The biggest headline for the H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027 is the move away from the “pure luck” random draw. Under the new rule taking effect in February 2026, the H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027 will prioritize candidates based on their offered salary levels.
The system now operates on a 4-tier weighted entry pool:
- Wage Level IV (Highest): These registrations receive 4 entries into the selection pool, dramatically increasing their odds.
- Wage Level III: Candidates receive 3 entries.
- Wage Level II: Candidates receive 2 entries.
- Wage Level I (Entry-Level): Candidates receive only 1 entry.
This change in the H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027 is designed to ensure that the visas go to the most highly-skilled (and highly-paid) professionals, aligning the program with the goal of protecting US wages. However, it also means that entry-level graduates and junior developers may face significantly lower selection rates in the H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027 cycle.
Key Registration Dates for 2026
Preparation is critical. For the H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027, employers must adhere to a strict timeline in early 2026:
- March 2, 2026: Final deadline for USCIS to announce the official start date.
- Early March 2026: The registration window for the H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027 is expected to open.
- Mid-March 2026: Registration for the H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027 will close.
- March 31, 2026: Aimed date for USCIS to notify selected beneficiaries.
Missing these dates means waiting another full year, as there are no late registrations for the H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027.
Master’s Cap and Selection Odds
The “Master’s Cap” continues to be a major factor in the H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027. US Master’s degree holders from accredited institutions essentially get “two bites at the apple.” If they are not selected in the general H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027 pool, their registration is entered again into the 20,000-cap Master’s pool.
With the new weighted system, a Master’s degree holder at a Wage Level III or IV will have nearly guaranteed selection odds in the H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027, while those at Level I will rely heavily on the Master’s cap secondary pool.
Employer Strategy: The $100,000 Statutory Fee H-1B Visa Lottery
One of the most controversial updates affecting the H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027 is the proposed $100,000 statutory fee for certain H-1B petitions. While currently under litigation, this fee is intended to discourage staffing firms and bulk-registrants from flooding the H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027 system.
Employers are advised to consult with counsel well before the March registration window to determine their Wage Level category and verify that their SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) codes accurately match the job duties to prevent denials or revocations during the H-1B Visa Lottery FY 2027 adjudication phase.