H-1B Visa Lottery Goes Salary-Weighted in 2026 — What Skilled Workers and Employers Must Know

Starting February 27, 2026, the H-1B visa lottery no longer picks winners randomly. DHS has switched to a salary-weighted selection system — meaning higher-paid job offers now have significantly better odds of being selected. Here is everything you need to know before the FY 2027 registration window closes March 19.

What Happened
The Department of Homeland Security finalized a rule amending the H-1B visa selection process to prioritize higher-skilled, higher-paid workers. The rule took effect February 27, 2026, and applies to the FY 2027 H-1B cap registration season, which opened March 4 and runs through March 19, 2026.

Previously, H-1B registrations were selected through a purely random lottery. The new weighted system increases the probability of selection for petitions offering wages at higher prevailing wage levels.

How the New Weighted System Works
USCIS uses the Department of Labor’s four-tier prevailing wage system:

Level I (Entry): Wages at the lower end — lowest selection weight
Level II (Qualified): Wages around the average for the occupation
Level III (Experienced): Wages above average
Level IV (Fully Competent): Wages at the top of the range — highest selection probability
What This Means for Skilled Workers
Your chances of selection are higher if your offered salary is competitive
Your employer’s offered wage matters more now — discuss salary in the context of H-1B selection odds
FY 2027 registration closes March 19, 2026 — your employer must act now
How to Apply
H-1B requires employer sponsorship. Workers cannot self-petition. Steps:

Employer registers during the USCIS online registration period (March 4–19 for FY 2027)
USCIS conducts weighted selection and notifies selected registrants
Employer files full H-1B petition (Form I-129) within the filing window
USCIS adjudicates — premium processing available for faster decisions
More info at uscis.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions
If I was not selected for FY 2026, can I register again for FY 2027?
Yes. Each fiscal year’s registration is separate. Your employer can register again during March 4–19, 2026.

Does the cap apply to all H-1B petitions?
No. Petitions filed by universities and nonprofit research institutions are exempt from the annual cap.

What if my employer won’t offer a higher salary?
You can discuss this, but employers are not required to offer higher wages solely for lottery purposes. If not selected, try again next fiscal year.

Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — uscis.gov. Updated March 16, 2026.