With only 343,981 registrations — the lowest in recent years — the FY2027 H-1B lottery may not need a second round. Here is a data-driven analysis of the likelihood and what it means for you.
After every H-1B lottery, the most common question from non-selected applicants is: will there be a second round? USCIS conducts additional selection rounds when not enough initially selected registrants file petitions. Historical data shows this happens frequently — FY2024 had two additional rounds, and FY2025 had one. But FY2027 is different: with only 343,981 registrations (the lowest in years) and the new wage-weighted system favoring higher-wage workers who are more likely to follow through, a second round is less probable.
Quick Answer: A second H-1B lottery round for FY2027 is possible but less likely than in recent years. With only 343,981 registrations (down 27%), the initial selection should cover a larger percentage of registrants. The wage-weighted system also favors higher-wage workers who are statistically more likely to follow through with petition filing. Historical precedent: FY2024 had 2 extra rounds, FY2025 had 1, FY2026 had 0. If a second round happens, expect it in July-August 2026.
| 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 |
USCIS conducts additional lottery rounds when the number of filed petitions falls short of the 85,000 cap. This happens because not every selected registrant actually files a petition — some change jobs, leave the country, or their employer decides not to proceed. Historically, the non-filing rate has ranged from 15-30%.
FY2024 was unusual: USCIS conducted two additional selection rounds (July and October 2023) because the massive number of fraudulent multiple registrations resulted in many selections going to entities that never intended to file. FY2025 needed one additional round. FY2026, the first year of beneficiary-centric selection, did not need a second round — suggesting that eliminating duplicate registrations also eliminated much of the non-filing problem.
For FY2027, several factors reduce the likelihood of a second round: (1) the beneficiary-centric rule continues to eliminate duplicate/fraudulent registrations; (2) the wage-weighted system selects more higher-wage workers who are employed at established companies more likely to follow through; (3) with only 343,981 registrations, USCIS can select a larger initial percentage to account for non-filing. However, a second round remains possible if economic conditions change or if enough selected registrants withdraw.
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Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →If USCIS determines it needs additional selections to fill the 85,000 cap, a second round would typically occur in July-August 2026 — after the June 30 petition filing deadline passes and USCIS can assess how many initially selected registrants actually filed petitions. Results of a second round would be posted to myUSCIS accounts. There is no guaranteed timeline, and USCIS announces second rounds with limited advance notice.
Lower than in recent years. FY2027 has three factors working against a second round: (1) only 343,981 registrations means USCIS selects a larger initial percentage; (2) beneficiary-centric selection eliminates fraudulent non-filing registrations; (3) wage-weighted selection favors higher-wage workers at established companies who are more likely to file. FY2026 (the first year of beneficiary-centric selection) did not need a second round, and FY2027 has even fewer registrations.
No. While second rounds have occurred in recent years, you should not rely on one. Instead, immediately pursue alternative pathways: STEM OPT extension, cap-exempt employment, O-1A visa, EB-2 NIW, or other options. If a second round does happen, it is a bonus. Planning around it is risky because USCIS does not guarantee additional rounds and may not announce them until July-August.
Wage-weighted selection likely reduces the need for second rounds. Higher-wage workers (Level 3-4) who are preferentially selected tend to be employed at larger, more established companies with dedicated immigration teams — meaning they are more likely to follow through with petition filing. In contrast, previous lotteries selected more Level 1-2 workers at smaller firms, some of which did not file petitions, creating the need for additional rounds.