How H-1B selection works in FY2027
Each fiscal year Congress caps new H-1B visas at 85,000: 65,000 under the regular cap plus 20,000 reserved for holders of a US master's degree or higher. Because demand runs roughly three times supply, USCIS runs a selection (the "lottery") on registrations submitted during a two-week window in early March. The FY2027 window ran March 4–19, 2026, with a $215 registration fee per beneficiary.
The big change: wage-weighted selection
For decades the draw was purely random. Starting with FY2027, a final rule (effective February 27, 2026) introduced a wage-weighted process: registrations offering higher OEWS wage levels receive better odds. Level III and IV roles can have up to roughly four times the selection chance of Level I, while entry-level filings see reduced odds. The statutory caps and the beneficiary-centric structure (one entry per person, no matter how many employers register you) are unchanged.
Why a US master's degree matters
Advanced-degree holders are entered in the 20,000 master's cap first. If not selected there, they roll into the regular 65,000 pool — effectively two chances at selection. In FY2026 the overall per-beneficiary selection rate was about 35.3%, the highest since electronic registration began, after fraud reforms cut duplicate registrations.
These are estimates, not a guarantee
Exact FY2027 wage-band probabilities depend on the final pool composition, which USCIS publishes after selection. The figures here model the published direction (Level III/IV favored, master's double-draw) against recent overall rates. Treat them as planning guidance, and confirm specifics with a qualified immigration attorney.
What happened to the $100,000 H-1B fee?
A Presidential Proclamation imposed a $100,000 supplemental fee on certain new H-1B petitions effective September 21, 2025. On June 8, 2026, a federal court vacated that fee as unlawful. Litigation history in this area moves fast — confirm the current status before relying on any fee figure.
If I'm not selected, what are my real options?
Common alternatives, depending on your background:
- O-1A — extraordinary ability in sciences, business, education or athletics. No lottery, no annual cap.
- L-1 — intracompany transfer if you've worked abroad for a related employer for one year.
- TN — for Canadian and Mexican citizens in qualifying professions under USMCA.
- EB-1A / EB-2 NIW — green card paths that skip the H-1B entirely for high-achievers and those whose work serves the national interest.
- Cap-exempt H-1B — universities and qualifying nonprofits aren't subject to the cap.