With 343,981 registrations and 85,000 slots, historical patterns suggest a possible second round. Here is what the data says and when USCIS decides.
Every year after the initial H-1B lottery, thousands of not-selected candidates ask the same question: will there be a second round? In FY2021 and FY2022, USCIS did run additional lottery rounds to fill remaining cap slots. The key variable is how many selected candidates actually file petitions. If enough withdraw or are disqualified, USCIS pulls from the remaining pool. With FY2027 registrations at 343,981 — down 27% from FY2026 — the math is closer than in recent years.
Quick Answer: A second H-1B lottery round for FY2027 is possible but not guaranteed. USCIS ran second rounds in FY2021 and FY2022 when petition filings fell short of cap numbers. With FY2027 registrations down 27% to 343,981 — the lowest since FY2020 — there is a real chance USCIS needs additional selections. A decision would come in July or August 2026 if it happens. You cannot apply for the second round separately — USCIS selects automatically from existing registrations.
| Company | H-1B Filings | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 55,150 | Files heavily in all rounds |
| Microsoft | 34,626 | Consistent second-round filer |
| 33,416 | Files quickly when selected | |
| Infosys | 32,840 | High-volume staffing filer |
| Tata Consultancy Services | 28,950 | Files large batches |
| Cognizant | 26,700 | Active in supplemental rounds |
| Deloitte | 18,200 | Advisory and consulting |
| Apple | 15,800 | Hardware and software roles |
| Meta | 14,900 | AI and infrastructure roles |
| JPMorgan Chase | 12,400 | Finance and tech |
USCIS has run supplemental lottery rounds three times in recent history. In FY2021, USCIS ran a second round in August 2020 and a third round in November 2020 — this was partly driven by COVID-era registration drops and high withdrawal rates from selected candidates. In FY2022, a second round ran in July 2021 after petition filings came in below the 65,000 regular cap threshold. No second rounds occurred in FY2023, FY2024, FY2025, or FY2026 because registrations were so high (470,000+ in FY2026) that the first round filled all slots with room to spare.
FY2027 is the first year since FY2022 where a second round is a realistic possibility. Registration dropped from ~470,000 to ~343,981 — a 27% decline driven by stricter USCIS registration fraud rules, the new $10 registration fee, and employer caution after recent tech layoffs. If enough first-round selectees fail to file (historically 10-15% don't file), USCIS could fall short of the 85,000 cap and need additional selections.
The wage-weighted lottery adds another variable for FY2027. Level 4 slots (62% odds) fill first and most completely. If Level 1 and Level 2 slots have high withdrawal rates, USCIS may need supplemental selections specifically in lower wage tiers. This is uncharted territory under the new lottery structure.
USCIS makes the second-round decision after the April 1 – June 30 petition filing window closes. They tally how many approved petitions were received against the 65,000 regular cap and 20,000 advanced degree exemption cap. If either falls short, they announce a supplemental lottery. Based on FY2022 timing, expect an announcement in July 2026 with notifications going out in August 2026 if a second round happens.
You do not need to do anything to be eligible for a second round. USCIS selects automatically from the pool of unselected registrations that are still valid. Your employer does not need to re-register. If you are selected, your employer will receive notice through the myUSCIS portal and will have until September 30, 2026 to file the petition.
If USCIS needs approximately 10,000-15,000 additional selections to fill the cap, and there are roughly 258,000 remaining unselected registrations, the odds of a second-round selection would be approximately 4-6%. That is much lower than the initial 35.3% odds, but it is not zero — and it costs nothing to wait. Keep your registration valid and your employer informed.
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Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →It is possible. With FY2027 registrations down 27% to 343,981 — the lowest since FY2020 — and if enough first-round selectees fail to file petitions, USCIS could fall short of the 85,000 cap and run a supplemental round. A decision would come in July 2026 after the April–June filing window closes.
No. USCIS automatically selects from the pool of existing unselected registrations. Your employer does not need to re-register or pay another fee. Just make sure your registration remains valid and inform your employer to watch the myUSCIS portal.
In the FY2022 second round (July 2021), USCIS needed roughly 8,000-12,000 additional petitions. With several hundred thousand unselected registrations in the pool, odds were estimated at 3-5%. Much lower than the first round but still meaningful.
If a second round is announced in July 2026, petitions would need to be filed by September 30, 2026 — the end of the federal fiscal year. This gives employers and attorneys approximately 2 months to prepare and file.