H-1B update: No second lottery will be held, USCIS says it has received enough applications for fiscal year 2027
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Friday that it will not conduct a second lottery in fiscal year 2027. “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to meet the congressionally mandated fiscal year 2027 regular cap of 65,000 H-1B visas and the U.S. advanced degree exemption (i.e., master’s degree cap) of 20,000 H-1B visas,” the agency said.When the cap is not reached, the agency will hold a second round of draws. This year, since the H-1B lottery is different this year, there is hope for a second round or even a third round lottery. For the first time, USCIS is conducting a salary-based lottery rather than a random lottery, and it is also the first time that employers must pay $100,000 for each H-1B petition they file.Fewer registrations: Due to the impact of many new rules, the number of registrations for this lottery is small. Experts believe the lower numbers could provide a greater chance of a second or third-round draw. Approximately 211,600 H-1B registration applications were filed in fiscal year 2027, compared with 343,981 in fiscal year 2026.Salary based lotteries: Fiscal Year 2027 is the first year that USCIS will use a salary-based lottery, replacing the previous random selection process. Better options for high-paying jobs. As employers are entering unfamiliar territory, some experts expect application behavior to be less predictable.New $100,000 fee: The Trump administration also introduced a $100,000 H-1B fee, making employers more picky about who to register. Many companies submitted fewer registrations than in previous years. It is expected that even if employees are selected in the lottery, many employers may not submit applications because of the cost.
