2026 (FY27) H-1B Cap Season Opens March 4th

On January 30, 2026, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that the 2026 H-1B cap registration period opens at noon ET on March 4th and ends at noon ET on March 19th. It is only during this period of time that registrations for the H-1B lottery can be submitted by employers hoping to obtain H-1B visa status for current or prospective employees who have not previously been counted under the regulatory cap. 

As a reminder, there are a limited number of H-1B visas available each fiscal year under federal regulation, with each year’s quota becoming available April 1 for employment commencing no sooner than October 1. Every year, the number of registrations greatly outnumbers the number of cap-subject H-1B visas available—and it is highly unlikely that this year will be any different.

Basic information on the process for those who are new to H-1B cap season (or a refresher for cap veterans) includes: 

• Employers must submit an electronic registration for each prospective H-1B candidate.
• Registrations may be submitted between noon ET on March 4, 2026 and noon ET on March 19, 2026.
• Prior to registration, employers must create an account in the USCIS portal (if an employer already has an account, they do not need a new account).
• No priority is given to registrations submitted at the beginning of the registration period versus those at the end.
• All registrations require a $215 non-refundable registration fee.
• NEW THIS YEAR: In lieu of a random lottery, USCIS will conduct a weighted lottery. USCIS will assign weighted entries based on the highest DOL wage level that the beneficiary’s offered wage equals or exceeds for that position:
  • Level I → 1 entry
  • Level II → 2 entries
  • Level III → 3 entries
  • Level IV → 4 entries
• Also new this year: The $100,000 fee announced by the presidential proclamation in September 2025, applies to any new H-1B petition where the petitioner is residing abroad. In practice, the $100,000 fee has not been required for individuals already in the United States seeking a change of status.
• We anticipate USCIS will send selection notifications by March 31, 2026.
• Petitioners whose registrations are selected in the lottery will be invited to file full H-1B petitions in the 90-day period beginning April 1.
• If selected, employers must present evidence with the full H-1B petition of the basis of the wage level indicated on the registration as of the date of the registration.

If you are interested in sponsoring H-1B nonimmigrant visa status for a current or future employee, do not delay in preparing as the registration period will be here (and gone) before you know it.