H-1B FY2027 Cap Reached

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If you registered for the H-1B lottery this year and you're searching "H-1B cap reached 2027," "H-1B 2027 second round," or "not selected H-1B 2027 what to do" — here's what's actually confirmed, and what your options are now.

USCIS confirms the cap is closed — for good

USCIS announced that it had received enough electronic registrations for unique beneficiaries during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year 2027 H-1B numerical allocations, including the advanced degree exemption known as the master's cap, and notified all prospective petitioners with selected beneficiaries that they are eligible to file.

For anyone still hoping for a H-1B FY2027 second round lottery, the answer is no. Employers had until June 30, 2026 to submit petitions for registrants selected in the FY 2027 lottery, and the agency will not run a second cap lottery selection for H-1B employment in FY 2027. That means everyone who registered but wasn't picked in the first round is now officially in "not selected" status for this cycle — there is no waitlist and no supplemental draw coming.

The numbers behind FY2027

This year's registration pool looked very different from FY2026. In May 2026, USCIS released registration data showing that properly submitted registrations dropped 38.5%, from 343,981 in FY2026 to 211,600 in FY2027, while 71.5% of selected foreign nationals held a U.S. advanced degree, compared to 57% in FY2026.

That shift isn't random — it's the direct result of a new selection system.

Why FY2027 used a new "weighted" H-1B lottery

For the first time, USCIS moved away from the pure random draw. Under the new rules, the Department of Homeland Security replaced the longstanding random H-1B cap lottery process with a new weighted lottery that increases the odds of selection for foreign nationals being offered the highest wages, according to the Department of Labor's four-level prevailing wage system.

In practice, this means a registration tied to a Level 3 or Level 4 prevailing wage offer had meaningfully better odds than a Level 1 entry-level offer — which helps explain both the drop in total registrations and the jump in advanced-degree selectees.

Key FY2027 H-1B dates (for reference)

March 4–19, 2026, 12:00 PM Eastern: Initial registration period, requiring petitioners to register each beneficiary electronically through a USCIS online account and pay a $215 H-1B registration fee per registration.
March 31, 2026: Selection notifications sent; cap officially announced as reached.
April 1, 2026: Filing window opened for selected beneficiaries. As of April 1, USCIS began accepting only the Feb. 27, 2026 edition of Form I-129, which requires more detailed position information consistent with the SOC code chosen at registration.
June 30, 2026: Final deadline for cap-subject petition filing.
Late July 2026: USCIS confirmed no second-round selection would occur.

Not selected in the H-1B FY2027 lottery? Your realistic options

This is the part most people searching "H-1B not selected what next" actually need. A few paths are worth evaluating with an immigration attorney:

F-1 students on OPT/STEM OPT: you may still have work authorization remaining before your status runs out — check your STEM OPT eligibility and timeline carefully, since cap-gap protection does not apply once this year's H-1B cap is fully closed with no pending petition.
O-1 visa (extraordinary ability): an alternative for candidates with a strong record of achievement, no lottery involved.
L-1 visa: an option if your employer has (or can set up) a qualifying foreign affiliate and you meet the intracompany transfer requirements.
TN visa: available to eligible Canadian and Mexican citizens in qualifying professions.
EB-2 NIW: a green card route some professionals pursue directly rather than restarting the H-1B lottery next year.
Wait for FY2028 registration: typically opens in March 2027 — and given this year's data, positioning your registration around a higher prevailing wage level may meaningfully improve your odds under the weighted system.

What about the $100,000 H-1B fee?

This is a moving target, and if you're researching "H-1B $100,000 fee 2026," treat any claim with a date check. A presidential proclamation introduced a $100,000 fee tied to certain H-1B filings, but it has been contested in court, and its exact scope has shifted more than once during 2026. Don't assume the fee applies (or doesn't) to your case without confirming the current status directly with USCIS guidance or an immigration attorney — this is one area where outdated blog posts can seriously mislead you.

Bottom line

The FY2027 H-1B cap is closed, there will be no second round, and the selection process itself has permanently changed with the shift to wage-weighted selection. If you weren't selected this cycle, the smartest move is to map out your status timeline now — not in six months — and evaluate alternatives like O-1, L-1, or EB-2 NIW before your current status runs out.

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FAQ:

Is there a second round for the H-1B FY2027 lottery? No. USCIS confirmed it will not run a second-round selection for FY2027 — all registrations not selected in the initial round are final for this cycle.

How many people registered for H-1B FY2027? 211,600 properly submitted registrations, down from 343,981 in FY2026.

When does H-1B FY2028 registration open? Registration periods have opened in early March in recent years; FY2028 registration is expected around March 2027, though USCIS has not yet published exact dates.

What happens if I wasn't selected in the H-1B FY2027 lottery? You cannot file a cap-subject petition this cycle. Depending on your situation, alternatives include O-1, L-1, TN (for eligible nationals), EB-2 NIW, or waiting to register again for FY2028.