USCIS Sets March 4–19 Window for FY27 H‑1B Registration

USCIS set March 4–19, 2026 as the FY27 H‑1B cap registration window, outlining timelines and account requirements for employers using its electronic system.

What Happened

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that initial electronic registration for the fiscal year 2027 H‑1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 4, 2026, and close at noon Eastern on March 19, 2026. USCIS said selection notifications are expected by March 31, 2026, and only petitioners with selected registrations may file cap‑subject petitions for those beneficiaries.

Key Dates And Fees

Employers and their representatives must register each beneficiary through a USCIS online organizational account and pay the non‑refundable $215 per‑beneficiary registration fee. USCIS emphasized that selections occur after the window closes, so there is no advantage to registering on the first day. Selection notices will post to users’ online accounts, and filings for selected cases may proceed during the USCIS‑specified petition filing period.

What’s New This Season

A Department of Homeland Security final rule takes effect on February 27, 2026, ahead of the FY27 cycle. The rule implements a weighted selection process for H‑1B cap registrations that, according to DHS, generally favors higher‑skilled and higher‑paid beneficiaries while preserving chances across wage levels. GAO recorded the rule under the Congressional Review Act and noted its effective date and scope. USCIS indicates the registration system will continue to run through organizational online accounts.

Broader Context

A separate presidential proclamation issued on September 19, 2025 imposes, for 12 months from September 21, 2025, a $100,000 payment requirement for certain H‑1B cases involving beneficiaries outside the United States, with national‑interest exemptions. USCIS has advised that petitioners may need to address this payment before filing affected petitions. While this proclamation does not change how employers register for the cap, it may affect subsequent petition eligibility for some beneficiaries during the FY27 season.

What’s Next

Prospective petitioners should confirm organizational account access, line up beneficiary information, and budget for registration and any downstream filing costs. Employers should also review the weighted selection rule’s details and the proclamation’s applicability, especially for candidates abroad, as compliance steps may be required before filing petitions after selections are issued.

Sources

• FY 2027 H‑1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 4 — USCIS (January 30, 2026)
• Department of Homeland Security: Weighted Selection Process for Registrants and Petitioners Seeking To File Cap‑Subject H‑1B Petitions — U.S. GAO (January 20, 2026)
• Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers — The White House (September 19, 2025)
• H‑1B Electronic Registration Process — USCIS (accessed February 6, 2026)
• NewsFlash! USCIS Releases Details on FY27 H1B Cap and Electronic Registration System — Murthy Law Firm (January 30, 2026)