USCIS Implements Wage-Weighted Selection and $100,000 Fee for H-1B Visas

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a significant overhaul of the fiscal year 2027 H-1B visa cap registration process. The agency is replacing the traditional random lottery with a weighted selection system that prioritizes higher-paid and higher-skilled workers. Under this new rule, beneficiaries are assigned selection odds based on the Department of Labor's four-tier wage structure; specifically, candidates at Wage Level IV receive four entries, while those at Level I receive only one.

The registration window will run from 12:00 p.m. ET on March 4, 2026, to 12:00 p.m. ET on March 19, 2026. Employers must pay a $215 nonrefundable registration fee per beneficiary. The total annual cap remains 85,000 visas, split between 65,000 for specialty occupations and 20,000 for those with advanced degrees from U.S. universities. Selected registrants will be notified by March 31, 2026.

Additionally, the FY 2027 cycle implements a $100,000 filing fee established by a September 19, 2025, presidential proclamation titled “Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers” issued by Donald Trump. This surcharge applies to petitions for beneficiaries outside the U.S. without a valid H-1B visa or those requesting consular notification. While the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia upheld the fee on December 23, 2025, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Association of American Universities are appealing the decision.