Registration closed March 19, what 'Submitted' means, when results drop, wage-weighted lottery first year, $100K fee rules, cap-exempt backup plan — the one page you need
The FY2027 H-1B registration window closed on March 19, 2026. If you're an employer, attorney, or beneficiary with a pending registration, this is the single comprehensive resource covering everything from what 'Submitted' status means to when results will be announced, how the wage-weighted lottery works, the new $100K fee, and what to do if you're not selected.
| Event | Date / Period | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Window | March 7–19, 2026 | CLOSED |
| Lottery Selection | Late March – Early April 2026 | PENDING |
| Petition Filing Window | April 1 – June 30, 2026 | UPCOMING |
| Petition Adjudication | April – September 2026 | UPCOMING |
| H-1B Status Begins | October 1, 2026 | UPCOMING |
| Second Round (if needed) | July–August 2026 | TBD |
| $100K Fee Effective | Applies to FY2027 petitions | ACTIVE |
What 'Submitted' Means: After your employer submitted the registration and paid the $215 fee, the status shows 'Submitted' on myUSCIS. This simply means the registration was accepted into the lottery pool. It does NOT mean you were selected. The status will change to 'Selected' (congratulations), 'Not Selected' (not chosen in this round), or 'Denied' (registration issue).
The Wage-Weighted Selection: FY2027 is the first year USCIS implements wage-based weighting. Registrations at higher prevailing wage levels (Level 3 and 4) receive higher selection probability than Level 1 and 2. The exact weighting formula has not been disclosed, but USCIS's final rule states higher-wage registrations will receive 'meaningfully higher' selection rates. Combined with the beneficiary-centric system (one chance per person regardless of multiple registrations), this fundamentally changes the lottery dynamics.
The $100K Fee: The Consolidated Appropriations Act imposes a $100,000 fee on H-1B petitions filed by employers with 50+ full-time employees where 50% or more are on H-1B or L-1 status. This primarily affects large IT consulting and staffing firms (Infosys, TCS, Cognizant, Wipro). The fee is in addition to standard filing fees. Employers already in COS or whose beneficiaries are exempt from the cap (e.g., already counted against a prior cap) may have different fee structures.
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Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →USCIS typically announces results 2-4 weeks after the registration window closes. With the window closing March 19, 2026, results are expected late March to mid-April 2026. Selected registrations will show 'Selected' on the employer's myUSCIS portal first, followed by beneficiary notification. Non-selected registrations will show 'Not Selected.' There may be a second lottery round in July-August if the initial selection doesn't fill the cap.
The $100,000 fee applies to employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees in the U.S. where 50% or more hold H-1B or L-1 status. This primarily affects large IT consulting and staffing firms. Most product companies (Amazon, Google, Apple, etc.) are NOT affected because their H-1B/L-1 workforce is well below 50% of total employees. Ask your employer's immigration team or HR for confirmation.
Under the beneficiary-centric system, USCIS identifies each unique beneficiary across all registrations. If 3 employers registered you, USCIS randomly selects ONE of those registrations to represent you in the lottery. You get exactly one chance — not three. This prevents the gaming that inflated FY2024 registration numbers. If selected, only the one randomly chosen employer can file the petition.
Prepare your documents: gather degree certificates, transcripts, passport copy, I-94, resume, and any credential evaluations. Ask your employer to prepare the support letter and begin the LCA process (LCA certification takes 7-10 business days). If on OPT, confirm your cap-gap eligibility with your DSO. Research backup plans: STEM OPT extension, cap-exempt employers, O-1A eligibility. Use Wisa to identify backup sponsors in case your primary employer is not selected.