SchulzLaw Blog February 3, 2026. FY 2027 H-1B Cap Registration Opens March 4: Key Dates, Fees, and New Selection Rules Explained | by cmatthewschulz Schulzlaw, PC

By cmatthewschulz , 2 February, 2026

Illustration of Uncle Sam pulling H-1B visas from a magician’s hat representing the H-1B cap lottery.

FY 2027 H-1B Cap Registration Opens March 4: Key Dates, Fees, and New Selection Rules Explained

By C. Matthew Schulz

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the opening of the FY 2027 H-1B cap initial registration period, continuing the electronic registration system that employers and immigration counsel must use to participate in the annual H-1B lottery. A full copy of the USCIS announcement is available here: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/fy-2027-h-1b-cap-initial-registration-period-opens-on-march-4.

Initial Registration Period Dates

USCIS confirmed that the FY 2027 H-1B cap initial registration period opens on March 4 and will remain open for a limited window. During this period, employers (or their authorized attorneys) must submit an electronic registration for each prospective H-1B beneficiary they wish to include in the cap lottery.

USCIS has emphasized that registrations cannot be submitted before the opening date, and late registrations will not be accepted once the registration window closes.

USCIS Online Account Requirement

All H-1B cap registrations must be submitted through a USCIS online account. Employers who work with immigration counsel may have their attorneys submit registrations on their behalf, but the employer must still be linked to the attorney through the USCIS online system.

USCIS has cautioned employers not to wait until the last minute to create or update their online accounts, as technical issues or verification delays can prevent timely submission.

Registration Fee

For FY 2027, USCIS requires payment of a $215 registration fee per beneficiary at the time the electronic registration is submitted. This fee is non-refundable, regardless of whether the registration is selected.

Payment is made electronically through the USCIS online system at the time of submission.

When Beneficiary Information Can Be Entered and Submitted

USCIS will allow employers and attorneys to begin entering beneficiary information on or after March 4, when the registration period opens. Registrations may be prepared and submitted at any time during the registration window.

As in past years, there is no advantage to registering early or late within the registration period. All properly submitted registrations are treated equally once the registration window closes.

Selection Timing and Notifications

USCIS will conduct the H-1B cap selection process only after the registration period has closed. Selections are not made on a rolling basis.

USCIS has stated that it plans to notify employers and attorneys of selected registrations by March 31, 2025, with notifications posted directly to the relevant USCIS online accounts. No paper notices will be mailed.

Only registrations marked as “Selected” in the USCIS system will be eligible to proceed to H-1B petition filing.

DHS Final Rule and the New Weighted Selection System

This year’s H-1B cap process operates against the backdrop of significant regulatory changes issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Under the DHS final rule, USCIS has implemented changes to the H-1B registration and selection process, including a new wage-weighted selection framework designed to prioritize higher-wage positions and strengthen program integrity.

The final rule and its implementation details are discussed in DHS materials linked from the USCIS announcement. The rule reflects DHS’s stated policy goal of aligning H-1B selection more closely with labor market wages and job quality, rather than relying solely on a purely random lottery.

The USCIS announcement also references a September 19, 2025, presidential proclamation, which further informs DHS’s authority and policy direction regarding employment-based immigration programs.