H-1B 2027 Lottery Results: USCIS Completes Selection With New Wage-Based System

On March 31, 2026, USCIS announced the completion of the H-1B cap lottery for Fiscal Year 2027, marking a significant shift in how foreign workers are selected for the program. For the first time, the lottery used a weighted, wage-level-based selection process established under a DHS final rule that took effect on February 27, 2026, replacing the previous random selection system. Under the new system, each registrant is assigned one to four entries in the selection pool based on the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) wage level corresponding to their offered salary. Higher-paying positions receive more entries, giving those beneficiaries a statistically greater chance of selection. Entry-level (Level I) workers still participate but with fewer entries, while Level IV (highest wage) workers receive four entries. The beneficiary-centric model introduced in 2024 remains in place alongside this new weighting mechanism. Employers whose registrations were selected will see a status of 'Selected' in their USCIS online accounts. They have a 90-day filing window—April 1 through June 30, 2026—to submit complete H-1B petitions. Each petition must include the selection notice, a copy of the beneficiary's passport used during registration, and documentation confirming the OEWS wage level, SOC code, and area of intended employment. Approved H-1B petitions under FY2027 cannot begin employment until October 1, 2026, the start of the new fiscal year. USCIS noted it may conduct a second lottery if insufficient petitions are filed during the window to meet the annual statutory cap. While this announcement specifically concerns the H-1B nonimmigrant visa category, it is broadly relevant to employment-based immigration watchers. The wage-prioritization model signals a policy direction that may influence future rulemaking for employment-based green card categories, including EB-3.