FY 2027 H-1B Cap Lottery Results and Next Steps
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has completed the FY 2027 H-1B cap lottery selection process. Employers and their attorneys can now log in to their registration accounts to review the status of submitted registrations. As in previous years, USCIS received more registrations than required to meet the annual quota of 65,000 regular H-1B cap numbers and 20,000 U.S. advanced degree exemptions.
Below is a brief summary of key updates and next steps:
H-1B Petition Filing Period:
USCIS will accept H-1B cap petitions for selected beneficiaries during the following period: April 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026. Petitions must be filed within the timeframe listed on the selection notice.
Next Steps:
For cases selected in the lottery, we will begin coordinating with you to:
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Collect required documentation
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Review position and wage information
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Prepare and file the H-1B petition within the USCIS filing window
If your registration was not selected, we can discuss alternative immigration strategies.
Key Update This Year:
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security introduced a wage-weighted H-1B lottery system this year. The selection process now considers the offered wage level under the Department of Labor’s OEWS wage system, rather than relying solely on a random lottery.
Important for F-1 Students on OPT
If a beneficiary’s OPT EAD expires before the end of the filing period, the H-1B change-of-status petition must be filed before the EAD expiration date to maintain cap-gap work authorization. We are reviewing these timelines carefully for affected cases.
Possibility of Additional Lottery Selections
Registrations that remain in “Submitted” status may still be considered if USCIS conducts additional selections later in the cap season, depending on the number of petitions filed and approved.
The Law Offices of Luke Bowman will continue to monitor these developments and provide updates. If you have questions about how this may affect your organization or immigration matters, or if you would like a case-specific assessment, please book an appointment here.
