New York: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the start of the initial H-1B registration process for the FY 2027 cap, alongside major policy signals on fees and selection priorities.
In parallel, the US government has also moved to temporarily expand the H-2B non-immigrant worker program by over 64,000 visas for FY 2026, aimed at easing labor shortages in specific sectors.
According to the latest notice issued by the USCIS, the initial H-1B cap registration window will open on March 4 at 12 noon Eastern Time, which corresponds to 10:30 pm IST on March 4. The registration period will remain open until March 19 at 12 noon Eastern Time (9:30 pm IST).
During this window, employers and authorized representatives must electronically register each beneficiary through a USCIS online account and pay a non-refundable $215 registration fee per applicant. The agency has said it plans to issue selection notifications by March 31.
Separately, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, is exercising FY 2026 authority to issue H-2B supplemental visas only to businesses facing or likely to face “impending irreparable harm."
