USCIS Announces FY27 H-1B Visa Changes
Analysis based on 10 articles · First reported Feb 01, 2026 · Last updated Feb 02, 2026
The new H-1B visa policies by United States — United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and United States — United States Department of Homeland Security are expected to increase costs and uncertainty for United States employers relying on foreign skilled labor, potentially impacting the tech and consulting industries. The shift to a wage-based selection system and the additional $100,000 fee for certain petitions could lead to higher operational expenses and a more competitive environment for visa acquisition.
The United States — United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2027 H-1B visa cap, running from March 4 to March 19, 2026. Employers must register beneficiaries online and pay a $215 fee per entry. The United States — United States Department of Homeland Security has amended the rules for selecting registrations, moving from a random lottery to a weighted selection process that prioritizes higher wage levels if registrations exceed the annual cap. This change aims to allocate visas to higher-skilled and higher-paid foreign workers to protect American jobs and wages. Additionally, a presidential proclamation issued by Donald Trump in September 2025, titled 'Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers,' may require employers with selected registrations to pay an additional $100,000 fee before filing an H-1B petition. These changes reflect a broader effort by the United States government to tighten control over the H-1B visa program and reshape how skilled worker visas are allocated, potentially impacting companies that rely on foreign talent.
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