McEntee Law Group’s H-1B Visa FY 2027 One Pager offers a clear, practical overview of what you need to know for the H-1B cap lottery registration.
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H-1B VISA The H-1B visa is an extremely sought-after option for professional-level foreign national employees. If your company is considering filing an H-1B case for employees this year, there are some crucial deadlines & things to keep in mind.
OVERVIEW
Initial H-1B Visas: Annual mandatory registration and selection process conducted starting in March for new H-1B applicants (often referred to as the "H-1B Cap" or "H-1B lottery") Demand > Supply: New visas granted each year capped at 65,000 plus extra 20,000 slots reserved for applicants with U.S. Master's degree or higher. As demand remains high for these visas, the annual registration and selection process referenced above determines who is eligible to file for a new H-1B each year Duration: 3 years , can extend thereafter for max of 6 years except in limited circumstances (e.g. pursuing a green card) Start Date: October 1st , unless employee has another valid work authorization
H-1B CAP FY27 UPDATE Two recent changes are expected to impact the H-1B Cap FY27 season:
1. Starting February 27, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will replace the random H-1B lottery with a wage-based system that favors higher-paid candidates. 2. Selected registrants who are overseas at the time of H-1B filing or are not eligible to request a change of status from within the U.S. will be subject to an additional $100,000 fee based on a presidential proclamation that took effect September 21, 2025. Applicants who have valid status in the U.S. and are eligible to change status to H-1B are not subject to this fee. These changes are expected to be subject to litigation, so our team is actively monitoring this. Please contact us if you have any questions.
REQUIREMENTS
Specialty Occupation: Positions that require at least a Bachelor’s degree in a specific field (e.g. engineers, IT professionals, financial analysts, etc.) Prevailing Wage ( or actual wage, if higher ): Determined by the Department of Labor database using the job title, minimum requirements, job duties, & worksite location(s). The actual wage is the wage paid to similarly situated employees.
AWARD-WINNING IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS NATIONAL PRACTICE THROUGHOUT THE U.S. For reference only. Not intended to be used as legal advice.
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