If you’re an employer seeking to get an H-1B visa for an employee this is the date you need to remember. 

What is the H-1B Visa?

The H-1B visa is a temporary, nonimmigrant visa that lets U.S. companies hire highly-skilled workers from other countries — especially in tech, engineering, and science. H-1B visas are typically granted for up to three years, with the possibility of extending them for a maximum of six years in most cases. Because demand is high, Congress limits the number of new H-1B visas each year, and USCIS uses a registration and selection process (called the H-1B cap) to decide who may apply. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and smaller startups all rely on it to bring in talent.

USCIS announced that initial registration for the fiscal year 2027 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern time on March 4 and will close at noon Eastern on March 19. 

For employers and immigration counsel, understanding and navigating this registration and its deadline process is critical — to participate in the FY 2027 cap season, prospective H-1B cap-subject petitioners and representatives must use a USCIS online account to register each beneficiary electronically for the selection process. A $215 non-refundable registration fee applies to each beneficiary registration — and must be paid at the time of electronic submission for each individual. 

Selections will not take place until after the initial registration period closes. USCIS plans to notify people of their selection status by March 31, 2026, through the registrants’ USCIS online accounts. Once the registration period closes, USCIS will determine whether the number of properly submitted registrations for unique beneficiaries exceeds the statutory cap. If so, USCIS will conduct a weighted selection process, assigning greater “weight” to registrations offering higher wages. This system, effective for the FY 2027 season, is designed to prioritize higher-paid and more highly skilled positions in the selection pool. 

After the Trump Administration’s proclamation restricting the H-1B process, released in Fall 2025, steps to obtain an H-1B visa changed. Now, if a petitioner has their registration selected and is eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition, they may need to pay an additional $100,000 fee before filing the H-1B petition as a condition of eligibility. 

Practical Considerations for Employers

With the registration window less than a month away, early preparation is essential. Employers should make sure they are ready to do the following:

• Confirm that organizational accounts are active and correctly configured.
• Gather accurate job information (wage levels, SOC codes, work locations) before filing.
• Budget for the $215 registration fee per beneficiary.
• Understand the implications of the new weighted selection methodology when setting wage levels.

You can also learn more about what changed in the H-1B process from last year to this year by reading our blog on “the truth of the $100,000 visa.”