USCIS Opens FY 2027 H-1B Registration Window with New Weighted Lottery and Possible $100K Surcharge

Wolfsdorf Rosenthal LLP reports that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will open the electronic registration period for the FY 2027 H-1B cap at noon ET on March 4 and close it at noon ET on March 19. The agency also confirmed it will implement a weighted-selection mechanism that could favor higher-wage positions. Under the revised system, each unique beneficiary still receives one lottery entry, but registrations tied to wage levels above Level 2 have an increased probability of selection. USCIS says the change aligns with the administration’s goal of rewarding “higher-skilled, higher-paid” roles while discouraging low-salary filings that critics claim suppress U.S. wages. Adding to employers’ calculus is a Presidential Proclamation that could impose a supplemental filing fee of up to $100,000 on certain petitioners whose registrations are selected. Final guidance on surcharge triggers remains pending, but multinationals are already adjusting budgets and talent strategies in anticipation. HR and mobility managers should create or update organizational USCIS accounts, identify cap-subject candidates—including F-1 OPT graduates and L-1 employees converting to H-1B—and ensure wage levels are competitive.



Companies that need extra support navigating these regulatory changes can leverage VisaHQ’s corporate immigration services; the firm’s U.S. desk (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) streamlines petition assembly, monitors shifting USCIS policies, and arranges consular visa appointments, allowing HR teams to stay focused on broader workforce priorities.

Because premium-processing fees also rose on March 1, companies must account for three separate payments this cap season: the $215 per-registration fee, new premium-processing surcharges, and standard petition costs. Early coordination among legal, finance, and HR stakeholders will be critical to avoid costly missteps.