USCIS Confirms No Second H-1B Lottery for FY2027 After Visa Cap Is Filled

The H-1B visa cap for Fiscal Year 2027 has officially been reached, meaning there will be no second H-1B lottery this year. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed it received enough petitions to fill all 85,000 available visa spots.

Employers whose registrations were selected in the initial lottery had until June 30, 2026, to submit complete H-1B petitions. Workers with approved petitions can begin their U.S. jobs starting October 1, 2026, the first day of FY2027.

Big Changes for the FY2027 H-1B Process

This year's selection process looked very different from previous years.

Key updates include:

• ⭐ USCIS replaced the traditional random lottery with a wage-based selection system.
• ⭐ Higher-paying job offers received a better chance of being selected.
• ⭐ The new process used the Department of Labor's four-level prevailing wage system to rank registrations.

The updated approach aims to prioritize highly paid, high-skilled positions instead of relying solely on chance.

FY2027 Selection Highlights

Early USCIS data revealed several notable trends:

• 71.5% of selected applicants held a U.S. advanced degree, up from 57% in FY2026.
• Only 17.7% of selected registrations came from the lowest wage category (OEWS Level 1).
• USCIS has not yet released the final selection rate or complete FY2027 statistics, but more details are expected soon.

The agency also reported 211,600 valid H-1B registrations for FY2027, a sharp 38.5% decline from the 343,981 registrations submitted for FY2026.

What Is an H-1B Visa?

The H-1B visa was created under the 1990 Immigration Act to help U.S. employers hire foreign professionals in specialized fields when qualified talent is difficult to find domestically.

To qualify, workers generally need at least a bachelor's degree or an equivalent level of expertise. The visa is issued for three years and can usually be extended for another three years.

Although many H-1B holders later pursue permanent residency through other immigration pathways, the visa itself is designed as a temporary work permit.

Who Uses H-1B Visas?

Technology companies receive the largest share of H-1B approvals, with computer-related occupations accounting for at least 60% of approvals since 2012. However, the program also supports hiring across many industries, including:

• Technology companies
• Hospitals and healthcare systems
• Universities and research institutions
• Banks and financial firms
• Other employers needing specialized talent

Each year, the H-1B program offers 65,000 regular visas, along with 20,000 additional visas reserved for applicants holding a U.S. master's degree or higher. Certain employers, including universities and qualifying nonprofit organizations, are exempt from these annual limits.