FY 2027 H-1B Lottery Opens March 4: What Employers & Candidates Should Know
Summary:USCIS has announced that the FY 2027 H-1B cap registration period will run from March 4 to March 19, 2026, with selection results expected by March 31, and this season introduces a potential weighted selection system that may favor higher-skilled and higher-paid roles. This shift makes employer wage levels, job classifications, and historical sponsorship patterns more important than ever. Using MyVisaJobs’ 21st Annual Visa Job Reports—organized into Hiring Signals (PWD), Active Hiring (H-1B LCA), and Long-Term Commitments (PERM)—employers and international professionals can better understand where companies are preparing to hire, actively sponsoring workers, and investing in long-term immigration pathways.USCIS announced the initial registration window for the FY 2027 H-1B cap will run from March 4, 2026 (noon ET) to March 19, 2026 (noon ET). If the number of registrations exceeds the cap (likely), USCIS will conduct a weighted selection among unique beneficiaries. Results are expected by March 31, 2026.
Key dates
| Milestone | Date (ET) |
|---|---|
| Registration opens | March 4, 2026 (noon) |
| Registration closes | March 19, 2026 (noon) |
| Selection notifications | By March 31, 2026 |
Registration must be submitted through a USCIS online account, with a $215 fee per beneficiary. Employers without an online account should create an organizational account ahead of March 4.
What changed for FY 2027
USCIS stated that if registrations exceed the cap, it will conduct a weighted selection among properly submitted registrations for unique beneficiaries, designed to prioritize higher-skilled and higher-paid workers.
Practical takeaway: wage level, occupation category, and employer behavior may matter more than in prior years.
How to interpret this season using MyVisaJobs data
H-1B is not just a “lottery story”—it is part of a broader hiring lifecycle. MyVisaJobs organizes our 21st annual Visa Job Reports into three stages of employer intent (all based on FY2025 filings):
| Stage | What it tells you | Where to explore |
|---|---|---|
| Hiring Signals (PWD) | Early indicators that employers are planning roles and validating wage requirements—often before petitions. | myvisajobs.com/reports/wage/ |
| Active Hiring (H-1B LCA) | Employers actively sponsoring work authorization for roles—useful for current demand, employers, job titles, cities, and salaries. | myvisajobs.com/reports/h1b/ |
| Long-Term Commitments (PERM) | Permanent, career-track sponsorship decisions—signals long-term workforce planning and retention strategy. | myvisajobs.com/reports/green-card/ |
For employers: quick preparation checklist
- Confirm your USCIS organizational account access before March 4.
- Review salary levels and role competitiveness using H-1B LCA reports.
- Use Hiring Signals (PWD) to benchmark wage expectations earlier in the cycle.
- If long-term retention is the goal, compare sponsorship patterns via PERM (Long-Term Commitments).
For candidates: what to pay attention to
- Prioritize employers with consistent sponsorship activity in Active Hiring.
- Compare salary benchmarks by role and city—especially important if selection is wage-weighted.
- Look for employers making long-term investments in PERM.
Note: An LCA or registration is not a visa approval. These reports summarize public filings for informational purposes.
