USCIS confirms H1B 2026 registration dates
USCIS’ H1B 2026 announcement confirms the registration window for the FY 2027 cap cycle as March 4 – 19, 2026.
Registration remains mandatory for all cap-subject H1B petitions.
Employers that do not submit a registration during this window cannot file a cap-subject H1B petition for the 2027 fiscal year, regardless of business need, urgency or candidate availability.
| Date | Stage | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| March 4, 2026 (12:00 pm ET) | Registration opens | Employers may begin submitting electronic H1B registrations through USCIS online accounts |
| March 19, 2026 (12:00 pm ET) | Registration closes | Final deadline to enter the FY 2027 H1B cap selection process |
| Late March–Early April 2026 | Selection notifications | USCIS notifies employers of which registrations may proceed to petition filing |
| Typically April–June 2026 | Petition filing window | Selected employers file Form I-129 H1B petitions within case-specific deadlines |
| October 1, 2026 | H1B start date | Earliest lawful start date for cap-subject H1B employment under the FY 2027 allocation |
What this means for US employers
Registration is no longer a low-stakes administrative step. Under the new framework now being applied by USCIS, registration details increasingly set the foundation for later scrutiny at petition stage.
Employers should treat the March registration window as the first compliance checkpoint. Role design, wage positioning, worksite planning and internal approvals should be aligned before registration opens. Inconsistencies asrising from the registration stage can create downstream exposure that cannot be corrected once a case is selected.
What this means for H1B applicants
For applicants, this announcement confirms when employer action must take place, but it does not change the applicant’s legal position. An individual cannot self-register and cannot control whether an employer submits a registration.
Selection, if it occurs, only gives the employer the right to file a petition. It does not grant status, extend existing work permission or guarantee approval. Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that selection equates to job security or immigration certainty.
Applicants should also be alert to timing risk. Where current work authorization expires before October 1, 2026, alternative status planning may still be required even if a registration is submitted or selected.
NNU: Attorney Perspective
Before the registration window opens, employers should confirm which roles will be registered, validate job duties and wage levels, and ensure that USCIS online accounts are active and correctly configured.
Internal sign-off should be completed in advance. Registration closes without discretion. Errors or omissions cannot be corrected after submission, and late registrations are not accepted.
Applicants should engage early with employers to confirm whether registration will be submitted on their behalf and should ensure that personal details used for registration are accurate and consistent with later petition documentation.
Need assistance?
US employers and H1B applicants should not wait until registration opens to assess risk, role fit or timing exposure. Early decisions taken before March 2026 will shape whether an H1B opportunity can be secured and used lawfully.
For advice on H1B registration strategy, selection risk, petition preparation or alternative visa options, speak to our attorneys for tailored guidance.
