Immigration lawyers predict that the total number of H-1B cap registrations for FY 2027 will further drop to around 200k as many companies stayed away from registering for H-1B petitions because of the $100,000 fee. The wage-based selection process, which is being implemented for the first time this year, will impact the selection but not the number of registrations so much, immigration attorneys Rahul Reddy and Emily Neumann predicted in their weekly visa update, pegging the number to be around 200k to 250k.
In the last three years, the number of total registrations fell sharply: 780, 884 in 2024; 479, 943 in 2025; 358,737 in 2026.
The USCIS has not disclosed the exact number of registrations it received.
H-1B lottery update: When are the results expected?
The registration window was open from March 4 to March 19 for employers to submit electronic registrations for candidates whom they want to hire on H-1B visas. This was not the petition; this was just the registration for the candidates. If these candidates are not in the US, then the employer would have to shell out a $100,000 fee if they are selected.
If these candidates are already in the US, on OPT, then the fee would not be applicable.
The results are expected by March 31. There is no public list but the employers are informed directly by USCIS.
The petition filing window is from April 1 to June 30, and the earlier employment for the approved H-1Bs will start on October 1, in the new fiscal year.
In the lottery, USCIS will select 65,000 eligible applicants, and so the number of total registrations gives applicants an idea of how much chance they have to get selected.
Who has to pay $100,000 fee?
The employer has to pay $100,00 fee if a petition filed for an H-1B candidate involves consular notification, port of entry notification or pre-flight inspection — meaning if the individual is outside the US. the fee does not apply when a visa applicant files to move from one type of visa to another, such as from an F-1 visa for non-US students to H-1B status.
