H-1B Visa Registration for FY 2027: What the New Selection System Means for Employers

As the FY 2027 H-1B registration period approaches, employers are facing meaningful changes to how petitions will be selected. This upcoming cycle introduces a wage weighted structure that alters how entries are counted in the selection process. The adjustments may influence salary decisions, role classification, and overall petition strategy.

Key Registration Timeline

The FY 2027 H-1B registration period will open at noon Eastern time on March 4, 2026, and close at noon Eastern time on March 19, 2026.

If total registrations exceed the annual cap of 85,000, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will conduct a weighted selection process among properly submitted registrations tied to unique beneficiaries.

Employers whose registrations are selected will have 90 days to file the full H-1B petition.

The electronic registration fee is $215 per beneficiary. The full petition filing fees are required only if the registration is selected.

The Shift to a Wage Weighted Selection System

For FY 2027, USCIS is moving away from a purely random lottery. Instead, the selection process will prioritize higher skilled and higher paid positions through a wage based structure tied to the Department of Labor’s Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics four tier system.

Under this framework:

• Level 4 wage or higher receives four lottery entries
• Level 3 wage or higher receives three lottery entries
• Level 2 wage or higher receives two lottery entries
• Level 1 wage or higher receives one lottery entry

In addition, a beneficiary receives one extra entry for each wage level that the offered salary exceeds.

This means the wage level assigned to a role directly affects how many times a registration is entered into the selection pool. Occupational classification and geographic wage data will therefore carry greater significance under this system.

The $100,000 Fee Requirement

Another development affecting FY 2027 is the implementation of a $100,000 fee for certain petitions filed after selection.

This fee generally applies to beneficiaries who must obtain their visa abroad or who are not eligible for a change of status within the United States.

Although the fee is currently being challenged in court, it remains mandatory unless an extraordinary rare circumstance exception is granted. Its existence adds a financial consideration that employers must evaluate alongside wage levels and registration strategy.

Planning in a Changing Environment

The FY 2027 updates reflect a broader shift in how H-1B cases are evaluated. Wage levels, role classification, and documentation are likely to play a larger role in determining selection probability than in prior years.

Organizations that anticipate cap subject filings may find that early review of job duties, salary alignment, and classification details reduces uncertainty as the March registration window approaches.

As immigration policies evolve, the H-1B process continues to reflect changing economic and regulatory priorities. The introduction of a wage weighted structure marks a significant adjustment to a system that employers have relied on for decades, and its long term impact will become clearer once the FY 2027 cycle is underway.