USCIS Confirms the FY 2027 H-1B Cap Has Been Reached
USCIS announced on July 17, 2026 that it has received enough H-1B petitions to meet the statutory annual limit for Fiscal Year 2027. The cap comprises 65,000 visas under the regular allocation together with the additional 20,000 visas available to qualifying beneficiaries holding a US master’s degree or higher.
Employers whose registrations were selected during this year’s H-1B registration process had until June 30, 2026 to submit a complete H-1B petition.
As a consequence of sufficient petitions being filed during that period to exhaust the available quota, there will be no second H-1B cap lottery for FY 2027. In some previous years, USCIS conducted additional selection rounds where too few employers filed petitions after selection. That will not be necessary this year because enough petitions were submitted to fill the annual allocation.
Next Steps in H1B Process
For employers with pending H-1B petitions, the process now moves into the adjudication stage. Reaching the cap does not guarantee approval. USCIS will continue to examine each petition against the statutory and regulatory H-1B requirements, including specialty occupation eligibility, employer compliance and supporting evidence.
For beneficiaries whose registrations were not selected, the FY 2027 cap process has now concluded. USCIS is expected to update remaining registrations in myUSCIS to show they were not selected and are no longer eligible to support an FY 2027 cap petition. Those registrations cannot be reused or carried forward into next year’s cap season.
The announcement does not affect H-1B petitions that are exempt from the annual cap. USCIS will continue to accept petitions for qualifying cap-exempt employers, together with extensions of stay, amendments and eligible change of employer petitions for existing H-1B workers.
Options if Unselected
The end of the FY 2027 cap season does not necessarily mean employers have exhausted their US immigration options. If a registration was not selected, waiting until the FY 2028 H-1B registration period may not be the most effective solution. Depending on the employer, the role and the individual’s circumstances, other visa categories may allow recruitment to proceed much sooner. Options can include cap-exempt H-1B employment, L-1 intracompany transfers, O-1 visas for individuals with extraordinary ability, TN status for eligible Canadian and Mexican professionals and E-3 visas for qualifying Australian nationals.
NNU Perspective
The FY 2027 season is the first under the new weighted H1B selection system. Although USCIS has yet to publish detailed statistics, early data suggests the reforms are already changing the profile of successful registrations, with a greater proportion of beneficiaries holding US advanced degrees and fewer selections from the lowest prevailing wage category. Although it is still too early to draw firm conclusions, more data should become available over the coming months of how salary levels may influence H-1B selection under the revised system.
For employers with selected beneficiaries, the priority now is ensuring petitions withstand USCIS scrutiny, since selection secures the opportunity to file but not necessarily approval. Weak evidence, inconsistencies or specialty occupation issues can still result in a denial.
For employers that missed out, the focus should shift quickly to workforce planning rather than waiting for another lottery that will not happen. Depending on the role and the individual, alternatives such as cap-exempt H-1B employment, L-1, O-1, TN or E-3 status may provide a faster and more commercially effective solution than waiting until Spring 2027 to register again.
For employers with ongoing recruitment needs, July should also mark the beginning of planning for the next H-1B cap season. Reviewing workforce requirements, salary levels and immigration strategy well before registration opens can provide greater flexibility and reduce reliance on a single annual filing opportunity.
Need Assistance?
If your FY 2027 H-1B registration was not selected, or you need advice on alternative work visa options or preparing for the next H-1B cap season, speak to NNU Immigration. Our US immigration attorneys offer fixed-fee telephone consultations to help employers and skilled professionals develop practical immigration strategies tailored to their circumstances.
