News & Announcements

2026 H-1B Cap Registration Dates (FY 2027) Announced

3 min read
Written by Aarushi Ahuja

Key Takeaways

  • H-1B registration opens March 4, 2026, and closes March 19, 2026, at 12 PM ET.
  • The registration fee is $215 per beneficiary and employers must submit registrations online through a USCIS account 
  • Selection notifications are expected by March 31, 2026.
  • FY 2027 introduces a new weighted selection process, and some employers may face an additional $100,000 fee if selected.

Official FY 2027 H-1B Registration Dates

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the official timeline for the FY 2027 H-1B cap initial registration period. The registration window will open at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 4, 2026, and will close at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 19, 2026.

During this period, employers seeking to sponsor foreign workers under the H-1B cap must submit an electronic registration for each beneficiary through a USCIS online account and pay the required $215 H-1B registration fee per worker.

How the H-1B Registration Process Works

All H-1B cap registrations must be submitted electronically using a USCIS online account.

  • Employers without an existing account must create an organizational account
  • Attorneys and representatives may add employer clients at any time
  • Beneficiary information and registrations cannot be entered or submitted until March 4, 2026

After the registration period closes, USCIS will review submissions and conduct the H-1B selection process.

H-1B Selection and Next Steps

USCIS expects to issue H-1B selection notifications by March 31, 2026. Notifications will be available through the employer’s or representative’s USCIS online account.

Only employers with selected registrations may proceed to file an H-1B cap-subject petition, including petitions for workers eligible for the advanced degree (master’s) cap exemption. Employers whose registrations are not selected may not file H-1B cap petitions for FY 2027 unless USCIS conducts a later selection round.

What’s New for the FY 2027 H-1B Cap Season Lottery

For FY 2027, USCIS will implement a new H-1B selection methodology following a final rule issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

If USCIS receives more registrations for unique beneficiaries than available H-1B visas, the agency will conduct a weighted selection process that prioritizes higher-paid workers, rather than using a purely random lottery.

You can estimate your chances under the new system using our H-1B lottery odds calculator.

Potential $100K Fee

Employers should also be aware of a new $100,000 H-1B fee, which may apply for some petitions.

In general:

  • Petitions approved as a change of status within the U.S. are not subject to the fee
  • Petitions filed for consular processing, or cases where a change of status is not approved, may trigger the fee unless an exception applies

Additional guidance is available on USCIS’s H-1B Specialty Occupations page.

Preparing for the FY 2027 H-1B Registration Period

With the registration period approaching, employers should confirm that their USCIS online accounts are active, coordinate with legal counsel as needed, and identify potential H-1B candidates early. USCIS has indicated that it will update its H-1B Electronic Registration Process page with additional guidance prior to March 4, 2026.

For the H-1B cap season, Ellis is offering free H-1B registrations (no legal fee).

Learn more about how Ellis can help you prepare, submit, and track H-1B registrations.

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