Most of you who were not selected in the first round of the H1B lottery for the H1B Visa Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 season might have been eagerly awaiting USCIS’s announcement. Unfortunately, it is not positive news for those waiting, as they announced that the H1B cap was reached for FY 2027, confirming that there would not be a second-round lottery for this fiscal year.
In this article, we will review the press release, what it means for current applicants who applied in the current H1B season, and what to expect in the future, including an analysis of past data and what we know about the numbers, as USCIS has not yet updated the website with numbers.
Background: H1B Visa FY 2027 Season, Initial Lottery
- USCIS accepted H1B registrations for the FY 2027 season starting from March 4th, 2026, Noon EST, until March 19th, 2026, 5 PM EST. You can read more at H1B 2027 season starts on March 4th. How does it work?
- The H1B Lottery results for the FY 2027 season began to trickle in from March 27th, 2026, through March 31st, 2026. USCIS made an announcement on March 31st, 2026, indicating that they have completed the first round lottery and have informed all selected applicants.
- Many applicants who were not selected in the first round of the H1B lottery have been waiting since then, holding on to a ray of hope for a second-round lottery, today that ended with the annoucement.
Now that you have some background, let’s look at the USCIS press release summary
USCIS News Alert: H1B Visa FY 2027 Cap Reached
Unlike the previous years, this year, the press release was released as a very short alert with little details.
- Received Enough Petitions for H1B FY 2027 Season: USCIS says that they have received the required number of H1B petitions to meet the congressionally mandated H1B cap for regular quota of 65,000 and US master’s quota of 20,000.
- What it means is that a sufficient number of employers from the H1B lottery selections filed a petition with USCIS, so that if they process them, they will be able to meet the H1B Cap of 65K for regular and 20K for the master’s quota.
- No Second Round Lottery: The concept of a second round H1B lottery comes into the picture only when USCIS does not receive a sufficient number of H1B petitions from the H1B lottery selections. For FY 2027, because USCIS received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to meet the congressionally mandated cap, USCIS will not conduct a second- or third-round lottery.
- There was no second-round lottery during FY 2026 as well. You can read H1B Cap Count Updates History, Lottery Rounds for more info on past second-round lotteries and other info.
Below is the screenshot of the actual USCIS press release
No Official Data on USCIS Website on FY 2027 Selections
Unlike the previous year, this year, USCIS did not update its website with the total number of selections that were made during the FY 2027 season. You can see below the screenshot of the the H1B Registration page, which doess not have any of the details .
H1B 2027 Numbers from USCIS Facebook Post
USCIS made a Facebook post with some metrics related to the FY 2027 season. Below are the same:
- USCIS received 211,600 H1 B registrations during the FY 2027 Season.
- Compared to last year FY 2026, the H1B registrations went down by 38.5% from 343,981 to 211,600.
- Of the selected H1B registrations during the FY 2027 season, 71.5% of them belonged to someone with a US Master’s Degree, compared to 57% during the FY 2026 season.
- With the new wage-based weighted lottery implemented this year for FY 2027, they said that only 17.7% of selected registrations belonged to Wage Level I.
Below is the screenshot of the actual Facebook Post from USCIS
H1B Registrations Trend with FY 2027 Data
Based on the numbers we know so far, below is what the trend looks like for H1B Registrations. The graph shows the decline in the number, indicating changes to the H1B Lottery process and how fraud filings have reduced over the years.
Below is the table with data corresponding to the above graph, which also shows the total number of H1B applicants with more than one H1B registration filed on their behalf.
| H1B Fiscal Year | Total H1B Registrations | Total H1B Applicants with More than One H1B Registration | Total Selected Registrations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 274,237 | 28,125 | 124,415 |
| 2022 | 308,613 | 90,143 | 131,924 |
| 2023 | 483,927 | 165,180 | 127,600 |
| 2024 | 780,884 | 408,891 | 188,400 |
| 2025 | 479,953 | 47,314 | 135,137 |
| 2026 | 358,737 | 7,828 | 120,141 |
| 2027 | 211,600 | No Data | No Data |
You may also read Next Steps after H1B Visa Lottery
What does this USCIS Alert mean for FY 2027 Applicants?
If you were an applicant during the H1B FY 2027 season and submitted a registration with USCIS, and were not selected in the first-round lottery done in March 2026, you are out of luck for this year.
- If you are someone who applied for H1B registration from outside the US, then you can try for H1B during the next H1B fiscal year 2028 that starts in March 2027.
- If you are an F1 Visa student on Optional Practical Training(OPT) and it is ending before March 2028, you must either leave the country or explore options to remain in the US. If you are eligible for STEM OPT, you can apply for the same and try your luck in the FY 2028 season. You can consult with an attorney to understand your situation and develop a plan.
Common FAQs
If you are outside the US and work for a Multi-National Company (MNC), another option could be an L1 Visa. Speak to your employer if your position is eligible for it. Also, the H1B season for FY 2028 starts in March 2027.
Your employers should see the H1B registration status updated to “Not Selected” anytime soon. As USCIS has made a press release, they usually update the status online soon. Check with your employer; it should be done by now or should happen in a few days.
We do not know at this point. The H1B Proclamation is set to end in September and there are court cases going on with them as well and now in appeals court. Read $100K H1B Fee Stuck Down by Court
Did the wage based lottery reduce the fraud in FY 2027? What do you think of the numbers in terms of selections for FY 2027? Share your thoughts in comments below.
