Every status explained — Submitted means still queued, Selected means chosen, Not Selected means not chosen — when each appears, what to do, official USCIS timeline
The H-1B FY2027 electronic registration lottery closed March 19, 2026. USCIS received approximately 343,981 registrations — down 27% from FY2026 due to the crackdown on duplicate registrations. Overall selection odds were 35.3%, but the wage-weighted system means odds varied dramatically by wage level. This is the complete guide to understanding your lottery result status, what each status means, and exactly what to do next.
Quick Answer: Three possible statuses: Selected (you won — employer files April 1 to June 30), Not Selected (not chosen this round — appears after March 31, eligible for second round), Submitted (still being processed — NOT rejection, wait until after March 31). Selection odds by wage level: Level 1 = 15%, Level 2 = 31%, Level 3 = 46%, Level 4 = 62%. Overall = 35.3%.
| Metric | FY2027 | FY2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Registrations | ~343,981 | ~470,000 | Down 27% |
| Overall Selection Rate | 35.3% | ~25% | Up 10pts |
| Level 1 Odds | 15% | ~12% | Up 3pts |
| Level 2 Odds | 31% | ~22% | Up 9pts |
| Level 3 Odds | 46% | ~35% | Up 11pts |
| Level 4 Odds | 62% | ~50% | Up 12pts |
What it means: You have been chosen in the H-1B lottery. Your employer can file an H-1B petition between April 1 and June 30, 2026. When it appears: Rolling from late March through March 31. Some see it as early as March 21, others not until March 31. What to do: (1) Notify your employer and immigration attorney immediately. (2) Begin gathering documents — passport, degree certificates, transcripts, resume. (3) Employer files LCA with DOL. (4) Petition filed using new Form I-129 (02/27/2026 edition). (5) Consider premium processing ($2,805). (6) If on OPT, cap-gap automatically extends your status to October 1.
What it means: You were not chosen in the initial lottery round. When it appears: After March 31, once all initial selections are complete. What to do: (1) File STEM OPT extension if eligible — TODAY. (2) Apply to cap-exempt employers. (3) Schedule O-1A consultation. (4) Evaluate EB-2 NIW. (5) Your registration remains in the pool for possible second-round selection in July-August. (6) Begin planning for FY2028 — negotiate salary to Level 3+.
What it means: Your registration has been received and is in the queue but has NOT been processed yet. This is NOT a rejection. When it appears: From registration through the completion of all selections. What to do: Wait. Do not panic. Do not assume the worst. USCIS processes in batches. Many ultimately-Selected registrants showed Submitted until March 29-31. Check the portal once or twice daily. Enable email notifications.
| Company | H-1B Filings | Top Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 55,150 | Software Engineer, Data Engineer |
| Microsoft | 34,626 | Software Engineer, Program Manager |
| 33,416 | Software Engineer, Research Scientist | |
| Infosys | 32,840 | Technology Analyst, Systems Engineer |
| Tata | 28,950 | IT Consultant, Software Developer |
| Cognizant | 26,700 | Software Engineer, Business Analyst |
| Deloitte | 18,200 | Consultant, Advisory Manager |
| Apple | 15,800 | Software Engineer, ML Engineer |
| Meta | 14,900 | Software Engineer, Research Scientist |
| JPMorgan | 12,400 | Software Engineer, Quantitative Analyst |
The 27% drop in registrations from FY2026 to FY2027 is the direct result of USCIS's beneficiary-centric registration system and duplicate crackdown. In previous years, a single beneficiary could have 5-10+ registrations from different employers, inflating the total. FY2027's system limits impact of duplicates, resulting in more honest odds. The 35.3% overall selection rate is the highest since the lottery system began.
The wage-weighted system continues to be the dominant factor. Level 4 registrants (62% odds) are 4x more likely to be selected than Level 1 (15%). For FY2028 planning, the single most impactful action is increasing your wage level. Geographic arbitrage helps: the same role might be Level 2 in San Francisco but Level 3 in Austin or Level 4 in smaller metros. Consider relocation or remote work arrangements that lower prevailing wage thresholds.
Key 2026 regulatory changes affecting results: The $100K consular processing fee (F-1 OPT COS exempt). Social media vetting expansion March 30, 2026. New Form I-129 mandatory (02/27/2026 edition). PERM processing at 503-day averages. These factors make staying in the U.S. on COS significantly more advantageous than leaving for consular processing.
Whether selected or not, search Wisa to find verified H-1B sponsors, wage data, and filing history for 45,000+ companies.
Search H-1B Sponsors →Search thousands of verified H-1B sponsors by company, industry, and location.
Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →USCIS processes selections in batches, not all at once. Selections roll out from approximately March 21 through March 31. Many people do not see their status change from Submitted until the very end of this window. Submitted on March 28 is completely normal and does NOT indicate non-selection.
The 35.3% overall rate is mathematically derived from ~343,981 registrations and ~85,000 cap slots plus over-selection buffer. However, YOUR individual odds depend entirely on wage level: 15% for Level 1, 31% for Level 2, 46% for Level 3, 62% for Level 4. The overall average blends all levels together. Your actual odds are your wage level odds.
Under the beneficiary-centric system, you can only be selected ONCE regardless of how many registrations you have. If both employers registered you, USCIS identifies you as a single beneficiary and enters you once in the lottery. However, multiple registrations at different wage levels means you are entered at the HIGHEST wage level among your registrations.
Both are technically right. Results come out in batches. Some employers received notifications as early as March 21-22, while others have not received updates yet. Your employer may not have checked the portal, or their registrations may be in a later batch. Ask your employer or attorney to check the myUSCIS portal directly.