U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed that the FY 2027 H-1B cap registration portal will open at noon EST on March 4 and close on March 19. Employers must pay a $215 registration fee per candidate, and—new this year—lottery entries are weighted by the proffered Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) level: Level IV positions receive four chances, Level III three, Level II two, and Level I one. (munsch.com)
The new algorithm aims to discourage low-wage filings and channel scarce visas toward higher-compensated roles, a long-standing objective of both Congress and the courts. Immigration attorneys expect intensified competition for STEM-heavy positions and urge companies to audit wage levels early to maximise selection odds.
Whether you’re an HR professional coordinating multiple petitions or an individual applicant trying to make sense of the process, VisaHQ’s online platform can streamline the administrative side of U.S. work visas. Their step-by-step tools, document checklists, and live support help users avoid common mistakes, and you can start exploring their services at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/
![FY 2027 H-1B Registration Opens March 4 with Wage-Weighted Selection Formula]()
Also noteworthy: the controversial $100,000 supplemental H-1B fee, applicable only to petitions not filed as changes-of-status, does not apply to most cap-subject students already in F-1 OPT or STEM-OPT status. That clarification, published Feb. 25, alleviates anxiety among university career centres but still leaves employers on the hook for higher prevailing-wage compliance costs.
Practical guidance:
• Create or upgrade myUSCIS organisational accounts now; last-minute technical glitches have derailed filings in prior years.
• Cross-check candidate passport validity and work-location ZIP codes, as both feed directly into wage-level determinations.
• Set calendar reminders for March 31, when USCIS will notify selected beneficiaries, giving petitioners the full 90-day filing window.
Failure to align wages and job duties could trigger Requests for Evidence or denials under the updated Specialty-Occupation memo issued last October. Employers should document project details and supervisory control to survive scrutiny.
The new algorithm aims to discourage low-wage filings and channel scarce visas toward higher-compensated roles, a long-standing objective of both Congress and the courts. Immigration attorneys expect intensified competition for STEM-heavy positions and urge companies to audit wage levels early to maximise selection odds.
Whether you’re an HR professional coordinating multiple petitions or an individual applicant trying to make sense of the process, VisaHQ’s online platform can streamline the administrative side of U.S. work visas. Their step-by-step tools, document checklists, and live support help users avoid common mistakes, and you can start exploring their services at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/
Also noteworthy: the controversial $100,000 supplemental H-1B fee, applicable only to petitions not filed as changes-of-status, does not apply to most cap-subject students already in F-1 OPT or STEM-OPT status. That clarification, published Feb. 25, alleviates anxiety among university career centres but still leaves employers on the hook for higher prevailing-wage compliance costs.
Practical guidance:
• Create or upgrade myUSCIS organisational accounts now; last-minute technical glitches have derailed filings in prior years.
• Cross-check candidate passport validity and work-location ZIP codes, as both feed directly into wage-level determinations.
• Set calendar reminders for March 31, when USCIS will notify selected beneficiaries, giving petitioners the full 90-day filing window.
Failure to align wages and job duties could trigger Requests for Evidence or denials under the updated Specialty-Occupation memo issued last October. Employers should document project details and supervisory control to survive scrutiny.
