The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has completed the initial selection process for the FY2027 H-1B visa limit. The agency will start processing the applications of selected candidates who reach this stage on April 1, 2026.
The agency received enough registrations to meet the annual limit, which included the advanced degree exemption; This development marks an important milestone in the intensive H-1B visa application process.
H-1B Visa Lottery Process
USCIS confirmed that it has notified employers whose candidates were selected in the lottery. Employers are now allowed to submit their H-1B cap-subject petitions during specified filing periods.
The agency says that this year only those petitioners who have selected beneficiaries can submit applications. Applicants who did not win the lottery will not be able to submit a petition for FY 2027.
USCIS announced that H-1B visa cap petitions can be submitted beginning April 1, 2026, if valid registration exists. The filing period will last a minimum of 90 days, which allows employers to complete their submissions.
The agency confirmed that all H-1B visa applications through its system are required to use the new Form I-129, which the agency introduced in February 2026, and must submit supporting documentation that includes passport information as well as job descriptions that match the original registration.
USCIS confirmed that winning the lottery does not automatically grant applicants approval. Employers must prove eligibility, including salary level and job qualifications, during the petition stage.
This process costs more because some petitions require additional fees that result from presidential proclamations that affect specific nonimmigrant workers. charge,
