US completes H-1B selection process for FY2027, filing starts April 1

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has completed the H-1B visa selection process for fiscal year 2027, confirming that the annual quota of 85,000 visas has been met during the registration period. The agency has finished notifying employers about selected candidates, with petition filings set to begin from April 1, 2026.

According to the official update, USCIS conducted both the regular and advanced-degree lotteries and informed sponsoring employers and their legal representatives of the results. Employers can now check the status of their registrations through their online accounts. The selected candidates can proceed with filing their H-1B petitions between April 1 and June 30, 2026.

Also read: H-1B visas to undergo key changes from April 1: Here’s what to know


The H-1B programme allows US companies to hire foreign workers in specialised roles. Each year, 65,000 visas are issued under the standard cap, along with an additional 20,000 reserved for applicants holding advanced degrees from US institutions.

The agency said it received enough registrations during the application window to meet the annual limit, though it has not disclosed the total number of submissions.

Weighted lottery replaces random selection

A key change this year is the introduction of a weighted lottery system by the Department of Homeland Security. The new system increases selection chances for applicants offered higher wages, based on the Department of Labor’s four-level Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) scale. This replaces the earlier random selection process.

Also read: New H-1B wage rules may lift foreign worker pay by $14,000 a year

Selected applicants must now move to the petition filing stage within the specified window. USCIS stated that if it does not receive enough petitions for unique beneficiaries to meet the cap, it may conduct additional lottery rounds.

The agency added that selection in the lottery does not guarantee approval of the visa petition, as each case will still undergo standard review during the filing stage.