Overview
- USCIS confirmed late Friday that it had received enough timely petitions to fill both the 65,000 regular H‑1B slots and the 20,000 U.S. master’s exemption for fiscal year 2027, so no additional selection rounds will be held.
- The agency reported 211,600 registrations for FY2027, a drop of about 38.5% from the prior year, a decline that observers link to rule changes and higher petition costs.
- Selections under the new wage‑based weighted lottery heavily favored higher wages and advanced degrees, with 71.5% of selected registrations tied to U.S. master’s degree holders and just 17.7% in the lowest OEWS wage level.
- Employers whose registrations were selected had to file full H‑1B petitions by June 30, 2026, approved beneficiaries under this cap may begin work on October 1, 2026, and cap‑exempt filings continue to be processed separately.
- USCIS has issued only summary metrics and an agency alert so far, so full selection statistics are still pending; non‑selected applicants must pursue alternative visas, status options, or wait for the FY2028 cycle while employers reassess hiring and sponsorship plans.