FY 2027 H-1B Cap Registration Opens March 4, 2026: Key Changes And Action Items

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the FY 2027 H-1B cap initial registration period will open at noon (Eastern) on March 4, 2026, and run through noon (Eastern) on March 19, 2026. During this period, employers seeking to sponsor H-1B cap-subject beneficiaries must submit an electronic registration for each candidate through a USCIS online account and pay the required $215 registration fee per beneficiary.

Each fiscal year, Congress allocates 85,000 total H-1B cap-subject visas, divided as follows:

• 65,000 visas under the regular H-1B cap; and
• 20,000 additional visas reserved for beneficiaries who have earned a U.S. master's degree or higher (the advanced degree exemption).