USCIS Says H‑1B Cap Filled Under New Wage and Degree Rules

Overview

• USCIS confirmed it has received enough timely petitions to reach the statutory H‑1B cap of 85,000 new visas, which includes 65,000 regular slots and 20,000 U.S. advanced‑degree exemptions.
• The FY2027 selection was run under new rules that weight registrations by wage level and U.S. master’s degrees, producing fewer total registrations and a selection pool concentrated at higher pay bands and master’s holders.
• A proposed $100,000 petition fee tied to the administration’s H‑1B changes was struck down by a federal judge, who found the president lacked authority to impose that charge.
• USCIS data show approvals remain dominated by large tech and consulting employers, with Amazon listed as the top approved petitioner and roughly two-thirds of H‑1B workers in computer‑related roles.
• Cap‑exempt filings, including workers in the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, continue to be processed outside the annual cap and detailed final adjudication statistics remain pending, a status that could prompt employers to rethink hiring and sponsorship plans.