FY 2027 H-1B Cap Registration Opens March 4: Everything Employers and Students Need to Know

By Immigration Team | Published 2026-02-22

USCIS has opened the FY 2027 H-1B cap registration period from March 4 to March 19, 2026. Learn the key dates, the new weighted lottery rules, what employers need to do now, and what international students on F-1 OPT need to understand before the window closes.

If you are an employer sponsoring international talent, or an international student or professional hoping to work in the U.S. long-term, the next few weeks are important. USCIS has officially announced that the FY 2027 H-1B cap registration period opens on March 4, 2026, and closes on March 19, 2026.

That is a 15-day window. Miss it, and you wait another year. Here is a breakdown of everything you need to know, whether you are an employer trying to sponsor someone or a student trying to understand where you stand.

The Key Dates at a Glance

According to the official USCIS announcement, here is the complete timeline for the FY 2027 H-1B cap season.

The registration fee is $215 per beneficiary, non-refundable, and must be paid at the time of submission through the USCIS online account.

For Employers: What You Need to Do Right Now

If your company plans to sponsor an employee for H-1B status, the clock is already ticking. Here is what needs to happen before and during the registration window.

Before March 4, get these in order:

• Create or confirm access to your USCIS organizational account. You cannot submit registrations without one and setup cannot wait until the window opens.
• Confirm valid passport or travel document details for each beneficiary you plan to register. The system requires this at submission.
• Identify the correct wage level for each position. FY 2027 uses a weighted lottery, so the wage level you register at directly affects selection odds.
• One registration per beneficiary only. USCIS flags and penalizes duplicate submissions.
• Coordinate with your immigration counsel early. Last-minute submissions increase the risk of errors that cannot be corrected after the window closes.

For F-1 Students: Understanding What Happens Next

If you are on OPT or STEM OPT and hoping your employer will sponsor an H-1B for you, here is what you need to understand about how the process works and what your role is in it.

You do not register yourself. Your employer does. They submit the registration through their myUSCIS organizational account and pay the $215 fee on your behalf. Your job right now is to make sure your employer knows the deadline, has your current passport details, and understands the new wage-weighted system.

The FY 2027 lottery runs differently from previous years. Under the new wage-based weighted selection system, higher salary offers receive more entries in the lottery pool. Level IV positions get four entries. Level I positions get one. This means your employer's wage classification for your role now has a direct impact on your selection odds.

There are two possible outcomes by March 31:

The annual H-1B cap is 85,000 visas total: 65,000 under the regular cap and 20,000 reserved for individuals who hold a U.S. master's degree or higher from an accredited institution. If you have a U.S. master's, your registration enters both pools, giving you a small statistical edge.