March 4–19, 2026: H-1B Registration Window for FY 2027
A record of the FY 2027 H-1B registration dates, fee, selection rules, and registration process.
The annual H-1B cap registration period for fiscal year 2027 ran from noon Eastern Time (ET) on March 4 to noon Eastern Time (ET) on March 19, 2026.
During this two-week window, U.S. employers and their authorized representatives were required to submit electronic registrations for each prospective H-1B worker through a USCIS online account and pay a US $215 non-refundable fee per registration.
👉 Duplicate Registrations / One Employer Rule During FY 2027:
- Employers could not submit multiple registrations for the same beneficiary.
- Multiple employers could register the same person independently.
How the Registration Works
This process was employer-driven: only U.S. employers - or representatives acting on their behalf - could submit registrations; foreign workers could not submit their own registrations. Everything was completed online.
Companies that did not yet have a USCIS organizational account needed to create one before participating. Representatives could link client companies to their profiles in advance, but beneficiary details and submissions could not be entered until March 4.
After the registration period closed, USCIS ran the selection process.
Only registrations selected in the FY 2027 process made the petitioner eligible to file a full H-1B cap petition, including a case qualifying for the advanced-degree exemption.
What Happened After Selection
Selection allowed the U.S. employer to file the full H-1B petition; it did not guarantee approval. Selected employers typically received a filing window of approximately 90 days to submit the complete petition, including a certified Labor Condition Application (LCA) and all required supporting documentation.
What Changed for FY 2027
The FY 2027 season introduced a revised selection approach. A Department of Homeland Security rule changed how registrations were chosen, focusing on unique beneficiaries and giving greater weight to higher-skilled and higher-paid candidates.
If registrations exceeded the cap, USCIS conducted a weighted selection among properly submitted entries.
If the number of unique beneficiaries was below the cap, all valid registrations were selected.
The rule aimed to better reflect wage levels, labor priorities, and overall job market conditions in the United States.
Additional Policy Development
A presidential proclamation issued in September 2025 originally added a payment layer to some H-1B filings. That earlier $100,000 H-1B proclamation payment is currently not being collected after federal court rulings.
DHS has separately proposed a new $103,265 fee for cap-subject H-1B petitions, including petitions selected under the regular cap and advanced degree exemption. That proposed fee is not final and is not currently payable.
For future cycles, employers should verify the current H-1B registration process, fees, selection rules, and any additional payment requirements before submitting a registration.
Key Takeaway
For FY 2027, the March 4–19 registration period was the first step in the H-1B cap process. The season introduced weighted selection, requiring employers to pay closer attention to wage levels, job duties, worksite details, and beneficiary information. For the next registration cycle, see our FY 2028 H-1B registration preparation guide.