H-1B Visas for FY 2027 Have Been Used Up

On July 17, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it had received enough petitions to meet both the 65,000 regular H-1B cap and the 20,000 U.S. advanced degree exemption (the "master's cap").

Here are the key takeaways from the announcement:

• No Second Lottery: Because the cap has been reached, USCIS will not conduct a second H-1B lottery for FY 2027.

• Next Steps for Unselected Registrations: Unselected registrations expire with the FY 2027 cap season and do not roll over. If a beneficiary was not selected, their employer will need to wait until the FY 2028 registration period (expected in Spring 2027) or explore alternative visa/green card strategies.

• Cap-Exempt Petitions Continue: USCIS continues to process and accept cap-exempt petitions. This includes extensions for current H-1B workers, changes of employer, amendments, and petitions filed by cap-exempt employers (like certain universities or non-profit research organizations).

(Immigration laws and policies change regularly.  If you have any questions regarding  this article, please visit www.1visa1.com to schedule a legal consultation.)