Every key date, deadline, and processing milestone in the H-1B visa process — from initial registration through final approval and beyond.
The H-1B visa application process follows a structured timeline that spans approximately 6-8 months from initial registration to employment start date. Understanding each phase — electronic registration, lottery selection, petition filing, USCIS adjudication, and status activation — is essential for both employers and prospective H-1B workers. This guide provides a complete month-by-month breakdown of the H-1B timeline for FY2027 (applications filed in early 2026 for October 2026 start dates), including key deadlines, expected processing times, and contingency planning for common delays.
| Company | Total H-1B Filings |
|---|---|
| Amazon | 55,150 |
| Microsoft | 34,626 |
| 33,416 | |
| Infosys | 32,840 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | 28,950 |
| Cognizant | 26,700 |
| Deloitte | 18,200 |
| Apple | 15,800 |
| Meta | 14,900 |
| JPMorgan Chase | 12,400 |
The H-1B visa process is governed by the federal fiscal year calendar. Employers file petitions in the spring for employment beginning on October 1 — the start of the new fiscal year. Since FY2021, USCIS has used an electronic registration system that requires employers to submit a brief online registration (and $215 fee per beneficiary) before the full petition. Only registrations selected in the lottery may proceed to file complete petitions, which has significantly reduced paperwork waste.
The annual H-1B cap is 65,000 regular-cap visas plus 20,000 reserved for U.S. master's degree holders (the "master's cap"). With registrations routinely exceeding 400,000+, the selection rate has fallen to roughly 20-25%, meaning most first-time applicants are not selected. Workers with a U.S. master's degree get two chances — first in the master's cap lottery, and if not selected, again in the regular cap lottery — improving their odds to approximately 35-40%.
For those selected, the petition filing window is typically 90 days from selection notification. Employers must prepare and submit the complete I-129 petition package, including the approved LCA, supporting documentation, and filing fees. USCIS then adjudicates the petition — either approving it, issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE), or denying it. Premium processing guarantees a response within 15 business days; regular processing can take 3-7 months.
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Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →The H-1B electronic registration period for FY2027 typically opens in early March 2026 and remains open for approximately 2-3 weeks. USCIS announces the exact dates several weeks in advance. Employers must complete registration during this window — late registrations are not accepted. The $215 per-beneficiary registration fee must be paid at the time of registration. Results are typically announced by late March, with selected registrations receiving a 90-day filing window for the complete I-129 petition.
With premium processing ($2,805 fee), USCIS guarantees a response within 15 business days — either an approval, denial, or RFE. Without premium processing (regular processing), timelines vary significantly by service center and caseload, typically ranging from 3-7 months. The California Service Center and Vermont Service Center handle the bulk of H-1B petitions. During peak season (April-June), regular processing times tend to be longer. Note: an RFE pauses the premium processing clock — after you respond, USCIS has another 15 business days.
If not selected, your options include: (1) try again next year — there's no limit on how many times you can enter the lottery; (2) maintain status through OPT/STEM OPT extension if you're an F-1 student; (3) explore cap-exempt H-1B employment at universities, nonprofit research organizations, or government research institutions (no lottery required); (4) consider alternative visa categories like O-1 (extraordinary ability), L-1 (intracompany transfer), or EB-2 NIW (national interest waiver); (5) some employers have offices in Canada, the UK, or other countries where you can work while waiting to be selected.
If you're changing status from another visa (e.g., F-1 OPT to H-1B), you generally cannot begin H-1B employment until October 1, even if your petition is approved earlier. However, you can continue working under your current authorization (e.g., OPT) until then. The 'cap gap' provision automatically extends F-1 status and any OPT employment authorization through September 30 for students with pending or approved H-1B petitions. If you're filing a cap-exempt petition (university, nonprofit), there is no October 1 start date restriction — you can begin working as soon as the petition is approved.