On 9 February 2026 the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published the timetable—and the fine print—for the fiscal-year 2027 H-1B cap season. Online registration will open at noon ET on 4 March and run until noon ET on 19 March. More significantly for India Inc., the agency confirmed that a new wage-weighted selection model will take effect once a final rule is published on 27 February.
Under the reform, each unique beneficiary will be entered into the selection ‘lottery’ multiple times according to the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) level of the proffered salary. Level IV wages get four chances, Level III three, and so on, effectively tilting odds toward higher-paid, higher-skilled roles.
For employers and workers trying to decode these shifting rules, VisaHQ can simplify the process. Via its India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) the service offers step-by-step document checks, deadline reminders and application tracking for U.S. work visas and many other destinations—giving HR departments and individual applicants an extra layer of assurance amid the H-1B shake-up.
![USCIS Sets 4–19 March Window for FY 2027 H-1B Registration, Unveils Weighted Selection Rule]()
Indian IT services giants and start-ups alike—who collectively account for 60–70 percent of H-1B approvals—face a strategic reset. Sectors that rely on Level I or Level II wages, such as quality-assurance testing or back-office support, may need to recalibrate compensation or shift headcount to near-shore centres. Conversely, product firms offering Silicon-Valley-level salaries could see their selection rates surge.
The registration fee also jumps to US $215 per beneficiary, and employers must attest that no duplicate submissions exist—a rule that will be policed with tougher site-visit powers. Immigration counsel advise HR teams to map wage levels to SOC codes early; errors could see entries discarded before weighting is applied.
Cap-gap relief for F-1 students has been extended through 1 April 2027, offering OPT holders a longer bridge while petitions are adjudicated. For Indian STEM graduates—still the largest cohort of US master’s students—the extension reduces the risk of work authorisation lapses.
Under the reform, each unique beneficiary will be entered into the selection ‘lottery’ multiple times according to the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) level of the proffered salary. Level IV wages get four chances, Level III three, and so on, effectively tilting odds toward higher-paid, higher-skilled roles.
For employers and workers trying to decode these shifting rules, VisaHQ can simplify the process. Via its India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) the service offers step-by-step document checks, deadline reminders and application tracking for U.S. work visas and many other destinations—giving HR departments and individual applicants an extra layer of assurance amid the H-1B shake-up.
Indian IT services giants and start-ups alike—who collectively account for 60–70 percent of H-1B approvals—face a strategic reset. Sectors that rely on Level I or Level II wages, such as quality-assurance testing or back-office support, may need to recalibrate compensation or shift headcount to near-shore centres. Conversely, product firms offering Silicon-Valley-level salaries could see their selection rates surge.
The registration fee also jumps to US $215 per beneficiary, and employers must attest that no duplicate submissions exist—a rule that will be policed with tougher site-visit powers. Immigration counsel advise HR teams to map wage levels to SOC codes early; errors could see entries discarded before weighting is applied.
Cap-gap relief for F-1 students has been extended through 1 April 2027, offering OPT holders a longer bridge while petitions are adjudicated. For Indian STEM graduates—still the largest cohort of US master’s students—the extension reduces the risk of work authorisation lapses.
