USCIS Confirms H-1B Cap Reached for Fiscal Year 2027; No Second Lottery Announced
On July 17, 2026, USCIS announced it has received enough H-1B petitions to fill the entire cap of 85,000 visas for fiscal year 2027. No second lottery will be conducted, and only candidates selected in the March 2026 draw may proceed with sponsorship.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on July 17, 2026, that the H-1B visa cap for fiscal year 2027 (beginning October 1, 2026) has been reached. Employers have submitted enough cap-subject petitions to exhaust the full allocation of 85,000 H-1B visa slots — 65,000 under the regular cap plus 20,000 reserved for employees with U.S. master's degrees or higher.
What This Means
- No second lottery round: Unlike some previous years, USCIS will not conduct a second selection drawing. Only individuals selected in the March 2026 registration lottery may file petitions.
- New wage-weighted selection: This was the first year using a wage-weighted system that gave candidates multiple lottery entries based on salary level, favoring higher-paid specialty occupations.
- Disputed $100,000 fee: A federal judge struck down a $100,000 consular-processing fee on June 8, 2026, but the Department of Homeland Security has appealed, leaving the fee's status uncertain for those filing abroad.
For Foreign Workers and Employers
If you were not selected in the March 2026 H-1B lottery, your options for FY 2027 include exploring cap-exempt positions at universities or nonprofits, applying for other work visas (such as E-3 or TN treaties), pursuing extraordinary ability (O-1) visas, registering again next March for FY 2028, or accelerating green card sponsorship if eligible. F-1 students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) should monitor their work permit expiration dates carefully.
Sources
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