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USCIS Selects H-1B Workers: Higher Wages Now Key
25 Mar
Summary
- H-1B registration for FY2027 closed on March 19, 2026.
- USCIS now uses a weighted system favoring higher wages.
- Selected employers can file H-1B petitions starting April 1, 2026.
The H-1B registration period for Fiscal Year 2027, which ran from March 4 to March 19, 2026, has officially closed. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is now proceeding with the selection process for unique beneficiaries based on the submitted electronic registrations.
Following selections, registered employers will receive notices and can file H-1B cap-subject petitions starting April 1, 2026, with a filing deadline of June 30, 2026. A notable change for FY 2027 is USCIS's implementation of a weighted selection process. This new system prioritizes foreign workers based on higher Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) wage levels.
Under the new criteria, registrations are weighted based on their assigned wage level: Level IV registrations count four times, Level III three times, Level II two times, and Level I once, toward the selection pool. For comparison, USCIS received 343,981 eligible registrations for FY 2026, selecting 120,141. A new petition fee of $100,000 per foreign worker also took effect September 21, 2025.
