Question 1

How does the FY2027 H-1B wage-weighted lottery work?

Accepted Answer

Starting FY2027, USCIS uses a wage-weighted selection system where higher-paid workers get more entries. Level I wages get 1 entry, Level II gets 2, Level III gets 3, and Level IV gets 4 entries. This means higher earners have significantly better odds of selection.

Question 2

What are the H-1B lottery odds by wage level for FY2027?

Accepted Answer

Based on estimated FY2027 registration volume (~280,000): Level I (entry-level) has approximately ~21% odds, Level II (qualified) about ~37%, Level III (experienced) about ~50%, and Level IV (expert) about ~60%. Actual odds depend on total registration volume.

Question 3

How is my H-1B wage level determined?

Accepted Answer

Your wage level (I through IV) is determined by comparing your offered salary against the prevailing wage thresholds published by the Department of Labor for your specific occupation (SOC code) and work location (metro area).

Question 4

When is the FY2027 H-1B registration period?

Accepted Answer

The FY2027 H-1B electronic registration period typically opens in March 2026. Employers must submit registrations during this window, and USCIS conducts the lottery selection shortly after the registration period closes.

Question 5

How does the Master's degree exemption work?

Accepted Answer

If you hold a US Master's degree or higher, you're eligible for the 20,000-slot advanced degree exemption pool. Those not selected in this pool are then entered into the regular 65,000-slot cap lottery, effectively giving you two chances at selection.

Question 6

What is the $215 H-1B registration fee?

Accepted Answer

Starting FY2027, the H-1B electronic registration fee increased from $10 to $215 per beneficiary. The fee consists of a $115 base registration fee and a $100 Asylum Program fee. This 21x increase is designed to deter speculative registrations and fund USCIS operations. The fee is currently subject to a legal challenge, with a court hearing on February 19, 2026.

Question 7

What occupations qualify for H-1B?

Accepted Answer

H-1B visas are available for specialty occupations that require at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. Common qualifying occupations include software developers, data scientists, financial analysts, engineers, architects, physicians, and other professional roles. The occupation must be classified under a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code, and the offered wage must meet or exceed the prevailing wage for that occupation in the work location.

Fee Component	Old ($)	New ($)
Registration fee Per beneficiary, paid at registration	$10	$215
I-129 filing fee Base petition fee (if selected)	$460	$780
ACWIA training fee $750 for ≤25 employees, $1,500 for 26+	$1,500	$1,500
Fraud prevention fee Required for all H-1B petitions	$500	$500
Asylum Program fee New fee under USCIS fee schedule rule	$0	$600
Total per petition	$2,470	$3,595

Scenario	L1	L2	L3	L4
High Volume 350K registrations	16.4%	30.1%	41.6%	51.2%
Baseline 280K registrations	20.5%	36.8%	49.8%	60.1%
Low Volume 220K registrations	26.1%	45.4%	59.6%	70.2%

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