U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has reached the FY 2027 H‑1B cap and will not conduct a second lottery, closing the book on this year’s selection cycle and giving clarity to employers and workers who were waiting for a possible additional round. The agency’s update, issued on July 17, 2026, confirms that all available slots have been allocated.
USCIS said on July 17, 2026 that it had received enough H‑1B petitions to satisfy both the regular cap and the advanced‑degree exemption for Fiscal Year 2027, which begins October 1, 2026. The annual quota is 85,000 visas, including 20,000 for U.S. master’s or higher degree holders. With that threshold met, the agency indicated there will be no additional selection round this season and it will continue processing properly filed cap‑subject petitions from the initial selection.
The announcement provides finality for registrants who were not picked in March. In some recent years, USCIS has run a supplemental draw to meet the quota, but this year’s filings during the initial period were sufficient to fill all numbers. The cap decision also lands after changes to the H‑1B selection framework that took effect for this cap season, designed to reduce abuse and align selections more closely with higher‑skilled, higher‑paid roles. This was the first H‑1B season under the new wage‑weighted selection rules, adding significance to how demand translated into final allocations.
Employers whose candidates were not selected should consider alternatives: cap‑exempt H‑1B filings (for qualifying universities and nonprofit or government research entities), other work-authorized categories, or planning for next year’s registration period. USCIS also continues to accept cap‑exempt H‑1B petitions year‑round for extensions, amendments, changes of employer, and concurrent employment that do not count against the cap. No additional H‑1B selections will occur for FY 2027, so unselected beneficiaries will need to evaluate interim options with counsel.