U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that it has received enough H-1B petitions to meet the fiscal year 2027 annual cap. The limit includes both the 65,000 visas available under the regular cap and the additional 20,000 visas reserved for beneficiaries who earned a qualifying U.S. master’s degree or higher.

Individuals whose electronic registrations were selected during the March H-1B lottery remain eligible to move forward with the process. Their sponsoring employer or legal representative must submit the complete H-1B petition within the applicable 90-day filing period. Registrations that were not selected are not eligible to file a cap-subject H-1B petition for this fiscal year.

What This Means

For employers and foreign nationals who were not selected, the conclusion of the FY 2027 cap season may require consideration of other immigration strategies. Depending on the individual’s qualifications, employer, and immigration goals, alternative visa categories or long-term planning may still provide a path to U.S. work authorization.

Next Steps

INLG recommends that selected beneficiaries ensure their petitions are filed within the required deadline. Those who were not selected should evaluate whether other employment-based immigration options may be available based on their specific circumstances.