U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services confirmed late on March 31 that it has finished selecting registrations for the FY 2027 H-1B cap, meeting the statutory quota of 85,000 visas. Employers can begin filing full H-1B petitions for selected beneficiaries starting today, April 1, and must use the new 02/27/26 edition of Form I-129. This is the first cap season to use a wage-weighted lottery that favors higher prevailing-wage levels, meaning companies that pay Level-3 or Level-4 wages saw better selection odds. Immigration counsel report that selection notices instruct employers to attach documentation showing how the wage level was determined, adding a layer of evidentiary burden to the filing package. Employers should prioritize filings for F-1 OPT holders whose work authorization will expire before June 30 to preserve cap-gap benefits.
![USCIS Completes FY 2027 H-1B Lottery; Petition Filing Window Opens April 1 – June 30]()
At any stage of the process, VisaHQ can assist employers and foreign nationals in tracking document requirements, securing consular appointments, and navigating related travel authorizations. Their U.S. portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) consolidates up-to-date forms, fee calculators, and personalized alerts, making it easier to stay compliant with USCIS deadlines while coordinating global mobility planning.
They should also budget for the new $100,000 consular-notification fee if a change-of-status request cannot be granted—an expense that could influence staffing models for off-shore service providers. With only 90 days to file and a new online-filing portal not yet stress-tested, large petition volumes may strain HR-legal coordination. Best practice is to pre-populate forms, order LCA certifications in advance, and reserve courier slots for hard-copy submissions as a fallback. Employers that miss the window risk losing talent to Canada or the U.K., both of which have streamlined tech-visa routes.
At any stage of the process, VisaHQ can assist employers and foreign nationals in tracking document requirements, securing consular appointments, and navigating related travel authorizations. Their U.S. portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) consolidates up-to-date forms, fee calculators, and personalized alerts, making it easier to stay compliant with USCIS deadlines while coordinating global mobility planning.
They should also budget for the new $100,000 consular-notification fee if a change-of-status request cannot be granted—an expense that could influence staffing models for off-shore service providers. With only 90 days to file and a new online-filing portal not yet stress-tested, large petition volumes may strain HR-legal coordination. Best practice is to pre-populate forms, order LCA certifications in advance, and reserve courier slots for hard-copy submissions as a fallback. Employers that miss the window risk losing talent to Canada or the U.K., both of which have streamlined tech-visa routes.
