The H-1B Lottery for FY2027 opens at 12:00 pm EST on March 4, 2026, and will run through 12:00 pm EST on March 19, 2026. The fee for submitting an H-1B Lottery Registration is $215 per entry.
The H-1B Program permits employers in the United States to temporarily employ foreign workers in “specialty occupations,” or occupations that require theoretical and practical application of specialized knowledge and for which bachelor’s degree or higher in a directly related specific specialty is normally the minimum requirement for entry into the position. H-1B specialty occupations include fields such as education or engineering.
This year’s lottery is subject to the Department of Homeland Security’s December 29, 2025, final rule, which introduces a weighted lottery for the H-1B selection process. Additionally, the H-1B Lottery for FY2027 is subject to the President’s September 2025 Proclamation which requires employers to submit an additional $100,000 fee with any new H-1B petition.
Selected lottery registrations will be announced by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services on March 31, 2026. Petitioners will receive selection notifications via the petitioner’s USCIS online accounts.
If your organization or company would like more information about eligibility requirements for the H-1B Lottery and/or assistance with submitting a lottery registration this fiscal year, please contact Grace Pennerat at (919) 783-1153 or gpennerat@poynerspruill.com.
