US Hits H-1B Visa Cap for 2027, Ending Lottery for This Year

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it has reached the H-1B visa cap for Fiscal Year 2027. This means no further lottery selections will be held for the upcoming fiscal year. The agency confirmed that both the regular cap of 65,000 visas and the master's cap of 20,000 visas have been filled. The H-1B program allows U.S. companies to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations, such as technology, engineering, and medicine. Each year, the government sets a limit on the number of new H-1B visas issued. When the cap is reached, no new applications are accepted until the next fiscal year. Changes for Fiscal Year 2027 included a wage-based lottery system that prioritizes higher-paying job offers. Employers also faced a new petition fee, which influenced the number of registrations this year. The new system aims to ensure that the most competitive positions receive priority. This development follows a trend of increasing demand for H-1B visas. In previous years, USCIS has often received more applications than available slots, leading to a random lottery. With fiscal year 2027 now capped, applicants who were not selected must wait for the next cycle, which begins in April 2027. The H-1B program remains a critical pathway for skilled workers seeking employment in the United States. Employers and foreign workers alike will be watching for any further policy changes in the coming months.