The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) declared the initial registration period for the 2027 H-1B cap. It will open at noon on March 4 and end on March 19, 2026. Employers or representatives seeking H-1B visas must register beneficiaries online and pay a $215 registration fee each. The selection results will be sent by March 31, 2026, through USCIS online accounts. New rules include a hefty $100,000 fee for petitions selected in the lottery, announced by President Donald Trump on September 10, 2025. "If a petitioner has their registration selected and is eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition, they may need to pay an additional $100,000 fee before filing the H-1B petition as a condition of eligibility," USCIS stated. The selection process prioritizes applicants with higher skills and wages to protect American workers' jobs and wages. USCIS said, "For the FY 2027 H-1B cap season, if the number of registrations exceeds the cap, we will conduct a weighted selection from unique beneficiaries." The 2027 H-1B visa cap is 85,000. If fewer apply, all properly submitted registrations will be selected. The news comes amid major visa program reforms and states like Florida and Texas banning H-1B hiring in state jobs. Employers without USCIS online accounts must create one to register. Representatives can add clients anytime but must wait until March 4 to enter beneficiary data and pay fees.