The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the successful completion of its H-1B visa cap selection process for Fiscal Year 2027. The agency confirmed it has met the annual limit of 85,000 beneficiaries, concluding both the regular lottery and the advanced-degree exemption lotteries. This marks a significant step for foreign professionals seeking to work in the United States, particularly within the technology sector.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that USCIS has notified all prospective petitioners whose beneficiaries were selected in the lottery. These individuals are now eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition for the selected beneficiaries. The H-1B visa program is a crucial pathway for U.S. technology companies to hire skilled foreign workers, with Indian professionals forming a substantial portion of H-1B visa holders, encompassing roles in technology and healthcare.
According to the USCIS statement, H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY 2027, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, can be filed starting April 1, 2026. For a petition to be accepted, it must be for a beneficiary selected through the lottery system and based on a valid registration. The agency has stipulated that the filing window for these petitions will be at least 90 days, and filers must include a copy of the applicable selection notice with their FY 2027 H-1B cap-subject petition.
USCIS also indicated that it will accept the latest edition of the Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, which was published on February 27 of this year. This update ensures that all filings adhere to the most current procedural requirements.
A notable shift in the H-1B selection process is the ongoing transition towards a wage-based model. This new approach prioritizes applicants who are offered higher salaries and possess greater skills, aiming to better align visa allocation with the demands of the U.S. labor market and mitigate potential system misuse. This move is expected to influence the type of candidates who are successful in the lottery.
The immigration agency’s announcements also reflect broader policy adjustments, including a significant fee component introduced previously. In specific circumstances, employers sponsoring foreign workers may be subject to a charge of USD 100,000. This measure is designed to encourage domestic recruitment and reduce the reliance on overseas hiring by American companies.
The current annual regular cap for the H-1B category is set at 65,000 by the U.S. Congress. An additional 20,000 petitions are permitted for beneficiaries who have obtained a master’s degree or higher from an accredited U.S. institution of higher education; these petitions are exempt from the regular cap.
USCIS further clarified that any H-1B cap petition submitted must contain and be supported by the same identifying information and position details as the beneficiary’s registration that was selected. Petitioners are also required to provide evidence of the beneficiary’s valid passport or travel document used during the registration phase for identification purposes. Additionally, evidence supporting the wage level selected on the registration as of the submission date of the underlying petition must be submitted, ensuring transparency and compliance with the new wage-based considerations.
The Chenab Times News Desk