The FY 2027 lottery introduces a wage-weighted selection process that will replace the random lottery favoring higher paid skilled positions over a purely random draw. Instead of one entry per beneficiary, registration entries will be multiplied based on Department of Labor wage levels, as follows: Level IV wage gets four entries; Level III 3 entries, Level II 2 entries, and level 1 one entry. 

Employers will be required to carefully evaluate and modify their H-1B hiring standards to reflect this new weighted selection process that favors high-skilled, high salary employees over entry-level, recent college graduates and submit evidence to USCIS that supports the wage level when filing their Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) and USCIS petitions.

Here is how the process will work:

• The registration period will run from March 4 to March 19, 2026
• USCIS will prioritize higher-wage positions. A Level 4 highest wage receives 4 times the chance of selection compared to an entry level role (Level 1)
• Employers must submit a $10 registration fee and specific details, including the ONET job and OEWS wage level, and the job location. Employers will later be required to justify the wage as it relates to the offered position when filing their petitions.
• Selection Process: If demand exceeds 85,000, USCIS will use the weighted system. If the cap is not met, all valid registrations will be selected.

For more information, refer here: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/h-1b-specialty-occupations

And here for the H-1B Electronic Registration Process: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations/h-1b-electronic-registration-process