US Immigration Department Completes H-1B Visa Selection for FY 2027

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has completed the H-1B cap selection process for fiscal year 2027 , meeting the annual quota of 85,000 visas . This includes 65,000 under the regular cap and an additional 20,000 for beneficiaries with a U.S. master’s degree or higher , exempt from the cap.

The agency stated that all prospective petitioners with selected beneficiaries have been notified and are now eligible to file H-1B cap-subject petitions beginning April 1, 2026 . The filing period will last at least 90 days , and petitioners are required to include a copy of the selection notice with their submissions. Additionally, the new I-129 form , published on February 27, 2026, must be used.

This year, the H-1B selection process has been revised to a wage-based model , giving priority to applicants offering higher salaries and possessing higher skills . According to USCIS, the change aims to align visa allocation with U.S. labour market needs and reduce misuse of the system .

Another significant change is the introduction of a USD 100,000 fee in certain cases when employers sponsor workers from outside the United States. This measure is intended to reduce dependence on overseas hiring and encourage domestic recruitment .

USCIS also emphasised that petitions must include the same identifying and position information as the selected registration , and petitioners must provide evidence of the beneficiary’s valid passport or travel document used at the time of registration. Furthermore, petitioners need to demonstrate the basis for the wage level selected on the registration, ensuring transparency and fairness in the allocation process.

The H-1B visa programme remains a vital route for U.S. technology companies to hire foreign professionals. Indian tech workers, physicians, and other skilled professionals continue to be among the largest groups of H-1B visa holders, reflecting the programme’s importance in meeting the country’s specialised workforce needs.

With these changes, the H-1B process now rewards higher-skilled, higher-paid positions while promoting domestic hiring and maintaining oversight to prevent system abuse. USCIS reiterated that petitioners should carefully follow all requirements to ensure successful filings for selected beneficiaries.