The FY2027 H-1B lottery received 343,981 registrations, a 27% drop from FY2026. Combined with the first-ever wage-weighted selection, here is a detailed breakdown of what the numbers mean for your odds.
The FY2027 H-1B lottery received 343,981 electronic registrations during the March 7-19, 2026 registration period. This represents a 27% decrease from FY2026 (approximately 470,000+) and is the most significant year-over-year drop in H-1B history. The decrease is entirely attributable to the beneficiary-centric selection rule eliminating duplicate registrations. Combined with the first year of wage-weighted selection, the FY2027 lottery represents the most dramatic structural change to H-1B selection in decades.
Quick Answer: FY2027 H-1B lottery odds by wage level: Level 1: ~15% | Level 2: ~31% | Level 3: ~46% | Level 4: ~62%. Masters cap adds ~7% bonus odds. With 343,981 registrations for 85,000 slots, overall odds improved versus prior years. The 27% registration drop from FY2026 is due to the beneficiary-centric rule eliminating duplicate filings — previous years included many people registered 5-10+ times by different employers.
| Company | Total H-1B Filings |
|---|---|
| Amazon | 55,150 |
| Microsoft | 34,626 |
| 33,416 | |
| Infosys | 32,840 |
| Tata | 28,950 |
| Cognizant | 26,700 |
| Deloitte | 18,200 |
| Apple | 15,800 |
| Meta | 14,900 |
| JPMorgan | 12,400 |
The wage-weighted lottery assigns different selection probabilities based on the prevailing wage level of the offered position. Level 4 (highest wages) receives the greatest weight, while Level 1 (entry-level wages) receives the least. This is the most consequential change to H-1B selection since the lottery system was introduced.
The impact by wage level is stark. A senior software engineer at Google earning $250,000 (Level 4) had approximately 62% odds of selection — nearly four times better than a junior IT consultant at a staffing firm earning $65,000 (Level 1) at approximately 15%. This wage-weighted system fundamentally shifts H-1B selection toward higher-skilled, higher-paid positions and away from entry-level roles typically filed by IT consulting and staffing companies.
The 27% registration drop tells an important story. In FY2026, the approximately 470,000+ registrations included massive duplication — individual beneficiaries registered by 3-10+ different employers simultaneously. The beneficiary-centric rule reduced FY2027 to 343,981 unique individuals. This means prior year odds were actually worse than reported, because many "registrations" were for the same people. FY2027 odds are the first honest representation of actual per-person selection probability, further modified by wage level.
Search thousands of verified H-1B sponsors by company, industry, and location.
Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →Approximate FY2027 odds by prevailing wage level: Level 1 (entry-level): ~15%; Level 2 (qualified): ~31%; Level 3 (experienced): ~46%; Level 4 (fully competent): ~62%. The masters cap adds approximately 7% bonus odds on top of these base rates. These odds are significantly better than the flat ~18-20% rate under the old random lottery, especially for Level 3-4 workers.
The entire drop is due to the beneficiary-centric selection rule. In FY2026, the ~470,000+ registrations included massive duplication — the same person registered by multiple employers. Some individuals had 5-10+ registrations. The beneficiary-centric rule gives each unique beneficiary one lottery entry. The FY2027 number of 343,981 represents actual unique H-1B seekers, not inflated duplicate counts.
If you hold a U.S. masters degree or higher, you first enter the regular cap lottery with your wage-weighted odds. If not selected there, you get a second chance in the masters cap pool (20,000 additional slots) with approximately 7% additional odds. This bonus is additive — so a Level 3 worker with a masters degree has approximately 46% + 7% = 53% total odds. The masters bonus applies regardless of wage level.
Companies that file H-1B petitions at Level 3-4 wages benefit dramatically. This includes most FAANG companies (Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Meta), major banks (JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs), and established tech companies paying market-rate salaries. Companies most disadvantaged are IT staffing and consulting firms (Infosys, Tata, Cognizant) that historically file many petitions at Level 1-2 wages. This is the intended policy outcome — prioritizing higher-paid specialty occupation workers.