U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Saturday that the initial H-1B cap registration period for fiscal year 2027 will begin at noon (ET) on March 4 and close at noon (ET) on March 19, 2026. USCIS’ latest announcement also confirms the implementation of a $100,000 petition fee collection system and a new weighting fee.
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Here’s everything you need to know:
> Initial H-1B cap registration period: March 4 to 19, 2026
> Total number of H-1B visas / H-1B visa limit: 85,000
> Registration fee: $215 fee
> Selection: March 31, 2026
> Fee if selected: $100,000
> Dear choice if USCIS receives more than 85,000 applications
H-1B Beneficiary Selection Process
1. The initial H-1B cap registration period will begin at noon (ET) on March 4, 2026, and will run until noon (ET) on March 19, 2026, USCIS said in a January 30 update.
2. A USCIS online account is required to electronically register each recipient for the selection process. USCIS says both agents and staff must wait until March 4 to enter beneficiary information and submit registrations.
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3. The associated $215 H-1B registration fee must be paid for each registration.
4. Selections take place after the initial registration period closes (March 19).
5. USCIS has indicated that it intends to send the Notice of Selection by March 31, 2026.
6. A petitioner may file an H-1B cap subject petition only if his registration was selected in the H-1B registration process. This includes a petition for a beneficiary who is eligible for a higher degree exemption.
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What’s new in the FY 2027 season?
1. The January 30 USCIS statement mentions a new H-1B selection process that prioritizes the allocation of visas to “higher-skilled and better-paid aliens.”
It simply states that a weighted selection will be made if USCIS receives more than the annual quota, which is limited to 85,000 visas (including 20,000 reserved for applicants with a US graduate degree).
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The USCIS statement reads: “If we receive registrations for unique beneficiaries during the initial registration period that exceed the cap in the FY 2027 H-1B deadline season, we will make a weighted selection from unique beneficiaries with properly submitted registrations.
2. What if less than 85,000 registrations are received? In that case, USCIS said, “If we do not receive registrations for a sufficient number of unique beneficiaries, we will withdraw all registrations for unique beneficiaries that were properly submitted in the initial registration period.”
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3. USCIS also mentioned a hefty H-1B visa application fee if their registration is selected. “If a petitioner has their registration selected and is eligible to petition with an H-1B restriction, they may be required to pay an additional $100,000 as a condition of eligibility prior to filing the H-1B petition.”
4. USCIS may require H-1B recipients to provide biometrics (fingerprints, photographs, signature) to verify identity, often through a request for evidence (RFE) for an address update or security clearance.
