USCIS Reaches FY2027 H1B Cap; No Second Lottery Expected

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced in a blast email that they have received enough petitions to reach both the congressionally mandated 65,000 H1B regular cap and the 20,000 H1B U.S. advanced degree exemption, commonly known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year 2027 (FY2027). As a result, USCIS is not expected to conduct a second H1B cap lottery for FY2027.

This announcement is important for employers, foreign nationals, and students who were waiting to see whether USCIS would make additional selections after the initial H1B cap filing period. In some prior years, USCIS conducted additional selections when the agency did not receive enough eligible petitions from the first round of selected registrations to use all available H1B cap numbers. For FY2027, USCIS has indicated that the petition volume is sufficient to meet both the regular cap and the master’s cap.

What this Means for Registrants Not Selected

Registrations that were not selected for FY2027 should no longer be expected to receive a second-round selection for this cap season. For many foreign nationals, this means employers will need to consider other immigration strategies or wait for the next H1B registration period, unless another basis for H1B filing is available.

Foreign nationals in F-1 status, including those working pursuant to Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT, should review their employment authorization end dates, any cap-gap issues, and possible alternatives before their current status or work authorization expires. Employers should also assess whether a change in strategy is needed for key employees who were not selected.

Conclusion

The practical effect of USCIS reaching the FY2027 H1B cap is that the lottery path is now closed for most cap-subject candidates until the next registration cycle. Employers and foreign nationals should use this time to evaluate immigration timelines, preserve lawful status and employment authorization where possible, and plan for alternative strategies before critical deadlines arise.

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