The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the initial electronic registration period for FY 2027 H-1B cap cases will open at noon Eastern Time on 4 March and close on 19 March 2026. Employers must pay a non-refundable US $215 per registration—up sharply from the US $10 pilot fee that had applied since 2020.
Although the registration fee hike was expected after a Department of Homeland Security fee-review last year, Indian technology firms—which file the majority of global H-1B petitions—say the new cost will add millions of dollars to annual mobility budgets. Companies that proceed to file full petitions after winning the lottery may face an additional ‘Asylum Program Fee’ of up to US $600 and, in some cases, the controversial new anti-fraud bond of up to US $100,000, details of which are still being finalised.
Global mobility teams that would like extra support with the registration logistics can tap VisaHQ’s India office (https://www.visahq.com/india/), which offers end-to-end assistance for H-1B filings, document gathering and consular processing, helping employers stay compliant while controlling costs.
![USCIS sets 4–19 March window for FY 2027 H-1B registrations; new $215 filing fee confirmed]()
USCIS also confirmed procedural tweaks designed to curb multiple registrations. Each foreign beneficiary will now be identified by passport number, and employers submitting more than one registration for the same individual will be automatically rejected—ending a loophole that had allowed unscrupulous agents to flood the system.
For Indian STEM graduates already in the United States on Optional Practical Training, the agency reiterated that cap-gap extensions will continue to apply, safeguarding work authorisation until 30 September 2027 if their registration is selected.
Immigration attorneys are advising employers to audit data early and budget for the higher outlay, warning that mistakes in the low-cost registration stage can no longer be rectified once the fee is paid.
Although the registration fee hike was expected after a Department of Homeland Security fee-review last year, Indian technology firms—which file the majority of global H-1B petitions—say the new cost will add millions of dollars to annual mobility budgets. Companies that proceed to file full petitions after winning the lottery may face an additional ‘Asylum Program Fee’ of up to US $600 and, in some cases, the controversial new anti-fraud bond of up to US $100,000, details of which are still being finalised.
Global mobility teams that would like extra support with the registration logistics can tap VisaHQ’s India office (https://www.visahq.com/india/), which offers end-to-end assistance for H-1B filings, document gathering and consular processing, helping employers stay compliant while controlling costs.
USCIS also confirmed procedural tweaks designed to curb multiple registrations. Each foreign beneficiary will now be identified by passport number, and employers submitting more than one registration for the same individual will be automatically rejected—ending a loophole that had allowed unscrupulous agents to flood the system.
For Indian STEM graduates already in the United States on Optional Practical Training, the agency reiterated that cap-gap extensions will continue to apply, safeguarding work authorisation until 30 September 2027 if their registration is selected.
Immigration attorneys are advising employers to audit data early and budget for the higher outlay, warning that mistakes in the low-cost registration stage can no longer be rectified once the fee is paid.
