The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it has received enough electronic registrations to fulfill the fiscal year 2027 H-1B visa cap, including the advanced degree exemption. This development initiates the next phase of filings, which will commence on April 1. USCIS has confirmed the selection of beneficiaries and has informed petitioners whose beneficiaries have been chosen.
Registrants can monitor their status via their online USCIS accounts. Starting April 1, 2026, petitions for selected beneficiaries can be submitted. The filing window will be open for at least 90 days, requiring petitions to include a copy of the relevant selection notice. Filings must be submitted at the correct location or online through the agency’s portal.
USCIS has introduced a compliance requirement linked to documentation. Each petition must align with the identifying and position details provided during registration. Petitioners need to furnish evidence of the beneficiary’s valid passport or travel document used during registration, along with proof supporting the declared wage level.
Beginning April 1, USCIS will only accept the new edition of Form I-129 (dated 02/27/26) for all FY 2027 H-1B filings. Moreover, a financial condition tied to a presidential proclamation mandates certain H-1B petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025, to include an additional $100,000 payment as a condition of eligibility.
Selection in the registration process does not guarantee approval, as petitioners must still demonstrate eligibility and provide all required evidence following Form I-129 instructions. For FY 2027, USCIS has implemented a new weighted selection system that prioritizes higher-skilled and higher-paid applicants based on Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) wage levels.
The annual H-1B cap set by Congress stands at 65,000 visas, with a portion reserved for the H-1B1 program under US trade agreements and an additional 20,000 visas for advanced degree holders from US institutions. Certain categories are exempt from the cap, including petitions from US higher education institutions and workers in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, provided filings are completed before December 31, 2029.
The H-1B visa program is widely utilized by US companies to recruit foreign workers in specialized fields, particularly in technology, engineering, and research. Indian nationals constitute a significant portion of H-1B recipients annually.
