USCIS confirms H-1B cap met for FY 2027, no second lottery

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially announced that it has received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to meet the congressionally mandated cap for fiscal year 2027. This effectively rules out any possibility of a second lottery for the year.

The development marks the first cap determination under a new set of regulations introduced by the Trump administration. The rules, which took effect earlier this year, overhauled the selection process and eligibility criteria for the popular work visa program.

What the cap means for applicants

The H-1B visa cap for FY 2027 stands at 85,000 — the same as in previous years. Of these, 65,000 are reserved for regular petitions and 20,000 for applicants holding a master's degree or higher from a US institution.

USCIS has confirmed that all selected petitions have now been processed. The agency stated that it will reject and return filing fees for all unselected cap-subject petitions. Applicants who were not selected will need to wait for the next fiscal year or explore alternative visa pathways.

For Indian professionals, who account for nearly 70% of all H-1B recipients, this news brings a measure of finality. Many had been hoping for a second lottery round, which has been conducted in previous years when initial selections did not meet the cap.

New rules reshape the lottery process

The Trump administration's revised H-1B regulations introduced several key changes this year. The most significant was the shift to a beneficiary-centric selection process, which replaced the earlier employer-centric model.

Under the old system, multiple employers could submit registrations for the same applicant, inflating the total number of entries. The new rule now limits each applicant to one entry, regardless of how many employers file on their behalf. This was designed to reduce fraud and improve the odds for genuine applicants.

The administration also introduced stricter wage requirements and expanded site visit authority for USCIS to verify compliance. These changes have been seen as an effort to prioritize higher-skilled and better-paid workers.

Alternative visa options gain traction

With the H-1B cap reached, attention is shifting to alternative work visas. The L-1 visa for intra-company transferees and the O-1 visa for individuals with extraordinary ability are among the options being explored by employers and applicants.

The EB-2 and EB-3 employment-based green card categories also remain open, though they come with their own backlogs, particularly for Indian nationals. Some technology firms are increasingly looking at remote work arrangements that allow talent to be hired without requiring US visa sponsorship.

Industry observers note that the cap being reached so early in the fiscal year underscores the persistent demand for H-1B visas. The program remains a critical channel for US companies to hire specialized foreign talent, particularly in the technology and engineering sectors.

What happens next

USCIS will now focus on processing the selected petitions and issuing approvals or denials. The agency has not indicated any changes to the cap for the coming fiscal year, but the debate over H-1B reforms continues in Washington.

For applicants who were not selected, the next registration window for FY 2028 is expected to open in March 2027. Until then, employers and workers will need to navigate a tightening visa environment with fewer options than in previous years.