US H-1B FY2027 registration opens Mar 4; weighted lottery starts

Study Abroad Expert | Updated On - Feb 3, 2026

The US will open the initial registration window for the FY 2027 H-1B cap at 12 noon Eastern Time on March 4, 2026, and it will remain open until 12 noon Eastern on March 19, 2026, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced.

This is the first stage of the H-1B cap process. US employers (or their lawyers) must submit an online registration for each beneficiary and pay the required registration fee before USCIS runs the selection process.

US H1B FY2027 registration opens Mar 4

What’s changing this season

A new weighted selection process is set to apply in time for the FY 2027 registration season. Under the final rule published in the Federal Register, DHS says the selection process will generally favour higher-paid, higher-skilled roles, using wage-level comparisons for the job and location, while still keeping a chance for all wage levels.

The same Federal Register document also notes a Presidential Proclamation referenced in the rule that includes a $100,000 payment requirement for some H-1B petitions, with stated exceptions and a limited duration unless extended.

Key dates and fees

Here are the key points Indian students and employers should mark:

Item	Details
Registration window (ET)	Mar 4, 2026 (12:00 pm) to Mar 19, 2026 (12:00 pm)
Approx timing in India (IST)	Opens ~10:30 pm IST (Mar 4); closes ~9:30 pm IST (Mar 19) (DST shift in the US after Mar 8)
H-1B registration fee	$215 per registration
Statutory cap reference	65,000 regular cap + 20,000 master’s cap

Conversion Note: ₹90.26 per $1

Why this matters for Indian students?

For many Indian students on F-1 OPT/STEM OPT, the H-1B cap remains the main route to continue working long-term in the US after graduation. A wage-weighted system could make outcomes more sensitive to offered wages and wage levels, especially for entry-level roles.

DHS also directly addresses student concerns in the rule’s discussion, stating it does not view the change as something that would preclude F-1 students from moving from OPT to H-1B.

What students should do now?

Confirm your employer is willing and ready to register you during the March 4–19 window.
Check your job details (title, location, SOC alignment, wage) with HR/immigration counsel early—this becomes more important under a wage-weighted approach.
Budget and timelines: the $215 registration fee is paid by the petitioner for each registration.