The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2027 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 4 and close at noon Eastern on March 19, 2026. During this two-week window, employers seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions must register each prospective worker through their USCIS online account and pay the $215 registration fee per beneficiary.
Employers without existing accounts are required to create an organizational account before submitting registrations. Petitioners and their authorized representatives will be able to enter beneficiary information and complete submissions starting March 4. USCIS expects to notify selected registrants by March 31, 2026, via users’ USCIS online accounts.
A new final rule, recently published by the Department of Homeland Security, revises the H-1B selection process for the FY 2027 cap season. The updated system introduces a weighted selection process to prioritize allocations for higher-skilled and higher-paid applicants, a move aimed at safeguarding wages and job opportunities for U.S. workers. If registrations exceed the annual cap, USCIS will conduct weighted selections from the pool of unique beneficiaries.
The announcement follows President Trump’s September 19, 2025, proclamation, Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, which outlines additional reforms to the H-1B program. While the proclamation does not affect the electronic registration process, petitioners whose registrations are selected may be subject to an additional $100,000 fee before filing.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
