H-1B Lottery 2027 results are in, though there is no official data on how many registrations USCIS received this year, and how the first wage-based lottery this year held up to random lottery practices. Selecting the registration filed by the company or the law firm that the company has hired is the first step in a longer process and does not mean that the path to the US is open and clear. Selected employers now have 90 days from April 1 to June 30 to petition for the candidates they want to hire. Once these petitions are approved, the earliest date of employment will be October 1. But there is a possibility that the petition may be rejected, although H-1Bs have a higher approval rate because they are for specialized workers. In fiscal year 2025, 8,926 petitions were rejected.
Why can a selected petition still be dismissed?
1. Special business issuesA specialized occupation is one that requires specialized knowledge in a specific expertise such as STEM. But if the petition does not convince USCIS, USCIS may decide that the job does not qualify as a “specialized occupation.”2. Employer-Employee Relationship ProblemsIf USCIS finds a problem with the employer-employee relationship, which is common in consulting/third-party placement cases. It is a standard practice in which companies recruit H-1B for their clients but USCIS may reject it if something unusual is found.3. Documentation gapMissing or weak evidence (degrees, experience, contracts, etc.)4. Labor Condition Application (LCA) IssuesA Labor Condition Application (LCA) is an application filed by potential employers on behalf of workers applying for work authorization for non-immigrant status. If there are any errors or mismatches the petition may be rejected. 5. Fraud/Misrepresentation ConcernsIf USCIS suspects any fraud, it may initiate further investigation and deny6. Request for Evidence (RFE) not satisfiedIf USCIS sends an RFE and the response is weak or late.
How many H-1B opportunities does one get?
As far as H-1B is concerned, there is no limit or number of opportunities for an individual. As long as the employer agrees to file the registration, the individual can enter the lottery. But practically, it does not extend beyond six to seven years. STEM OPT students typically receive three years of work authorization after course completion. Three years means three chances to enter the H-1B lottery if the employer wants to register. If one goes to another course after this and switches to student visa again, he gets three more years in the same process.
