USCIS Completes FY 2027 H-1B Cap Selection, Filing Opens April 1
Published Mar 31, 2026Effective Apr 1, 2026
USCIS says it received enough electronic registrations to reach the FY 2027 H-1B cap, including the advanced degree (master's cap) exemption. Petitioners with selected beneficiaries may begin filing H-1B cap-subject petitions on April 1, 2026, using the newly required edition of Form I-129.
Key points
- USCIS reached the FY 2027 H-1B numerical cap, including the master's cap exemption, through the initial registration round.
- Petitioners notified of a selected beneficiary may file an H-1B cap-subject petition starting April 1, 2026, based on a valid registration.
- The filing period will be at least 90 days and each petition must include a copy of the selection notice.
- Beginning April 1, 2026, USCIS will only accept the Form I-129 edition dated 02/27/26.
- Petitions must match the identifying and position information in the selected registration, with evidence of the beneficiary's passport and the wage level basis.
- Certain H-1B petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025, must include an additional 100,000 USD payment under the presidential proclamation restricting entry of certain nonimmigrant workers.
Who is affected
Employers who submitted H-1B registrations for FY 2027 and had a beneficiary selected, and their attorneys.
What to do
Selected petitioners should prepare and file the H-1B cap-subject petition within the filing period shown on their selection notice, using the correct Form I-129 edition and supporting evidence.
Full text
The complete official text was archived on this site on 2026-10-13. It stays available here even if the source link changes or is removed.
Release Date
03/31/2026
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough electronic registrations for unique beneficiaries during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year 2027 H-1B numerical allocations (known as the H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap).
USCIS selected enough beneficiaries with properly submitted registrations to reach the H-1B cap and notified all prospective petitioners with selected beneficiaries that they are eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition for those beneficiaries. Registrants’ online accounts will display their registration status. For more information, visit the H-1B Electronic Registration Process page.
H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY 2027, including those petitions eligible for the advanced degree exemption, may be filed with USCIS beginning April 1, 2026, if filed for a selected beneficiary and based on a valid registration. Only petitioners with registrations for selected beneficiaries may file H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY 2027.
An H-1B cap-subject petition must be properly filed at the correct filing location or online at my.uscis.gov and within the filing period indicated on the relevant selection notice. The period for filing the H-1B cap-subject petition will be at least 90 days. Petitioners must include a copy of the applicable selection notice with the FY 2027 H-1B cap-subject petition.
On Feb. 27, 2026, we published a new edition of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (edition date 02/27/26). Beginning April 1, USCIS will only accept the 02/27/26 edition of Form I-129. All H-1B cap subject petitions for FY 2027 must use this edition of the form.
An H-1B cap petition filed on behalf of a beneficiary must contain and be supported by the same identifying information and position information as the selected registration. Petitioners must submit evidence of the beneficiary’s valid passport or travel document used at the time of registration to identify the beneficiary and evidence of the basis of the wage level selected on the registration as of the date that the registration underlying the petition was submitted. See the How to Ensure You Properly File Your H-1B Cap-Subject Petition section on the H-1B Cap Season webpage for additional information.
The Presidential Proclamation Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers requires certain H-1B petitions filed at or after 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Sept. 21, 2025, to be accompanied by an additional $100,000 payment as a condition of eligibility. See the Presidential Proclamation on Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers section on our H-1B Specialty Occupations page for additional details.
Petitioners filing H-1B cap petitions on behalf of selected beneficiaries based on their valid registration must still submit evidence as provided in the Form I-129 instructions and establish eligibility for petition approval, as registration and selection only pertain to eligibility to file the H-1B cap-subject petition.
For more information, visit the H-1B Cap Season page.
03/31/2026
Original title: FY 2027 H-1B Initial Registration Selection Process Completed
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