The FY 2027 H 1B cap season registration period is now open. Employers who want to sponsor a foreign professional for a cap subject H 1B must submit an electronic registration during this window. If your company misses the registration deadline, you generally cannot file a cap subject H 1B petition this season.
This post summarizes what employers and candidates need to know right now, including the registration dates, the $215 registration fee, how the FY 2027 selection system works, and an important clarification for many employers: most change of status cases and most H 1B transfers do not require the $100000 payment.
Registration Period Dates for FY 2027
The initial registration window runs from noon Eastern on March 4, 2026 through noon Eastern on March 19, 2026. Selection notices are expected by March 31, 2026. If selected, employers generally have about 90 days to file the full H 1B petition.
The earliest start date for FY 2027 cap subject H 1B employment is October 1, 2026.
Registration Fee for FY 2027
The electronic registration fee is $215 per beneficiary. The fee is paid at the time of registration submission and is non refundable.
FY 2027 Selection System: What Changed
FY 2027 uses a wage weighted selection model for cap subject registrations. In practical terms, higher wage level positions receive higher selection priority while all wage levels remain eligible.
A commonly referenced operational summary is:
Wage Level IV receives four entries in the selection pool
Wage Level III receives three entries
Wage Level II receives two entries
Wage Level I receives one entry
The beneficiary based framework continues. Each beneficiary is identified by passport or travel document information and is treated as a unique entry. Multiple employers registering the same person do not create unlimited duplicate entries beyond what the wage weighting system provides.
The $100000 Supplemental Payment: Who It Applies To
There has been significant confusion about the $100000 payment. The most practical way to understand it is this: it primarily targets certain new H 1B cases where the beneficiary is entering the United States from abroad through consular processing.
For many employers, this payment is not part of the typical cap season strategy because most cap season cases involve candidates who are already inside the United States and can request a change of status.
Change of Status Cases: Why Most Do Not Require the $100000 Payment
A change of status H 1B filing applies when the beneficiary is already in the United States in valid nonimmigrant status and the employer requests the person change to H 1B without leaving the country.
Common examples include:
F 1 OPT to H 1B
F 1 STEM OPT to H 1B
H 4 to H 1B
L 1 to H 1B
E status to H 1B
If approved with change of status, the person becomes H 1B on the effective date listed on the approval notice. A visa stamp is not required to activate H 1B status inside the United States.
Because these filings do not involve entry from abroad, most change of status cases are typically treated as outside the $100000 payment category.
H 1B Transfers: Not Part of the Cap Lottery and Usually Not Subject to the $100000 Payment
An H 1B transfer is a change of employer filing for a worker who already holds H 1B status. In most cases:
The worker has already been counted against the cap in a prior year
The petition is cap exempt and can be filed year round
The worker may often start work after the petition is filed, if eligibility and status requirements are met
Because the worker is already in H 1B status and usually already in the United States, transfers are typically not treated as the type of case the $100000 payment is aimed at.
When Employers Should Pause and Confirm Before Filing
Even during the registration period, employers should confirm strategy carefully if any of the following apply:
The beneficiary is outside the United States and the employer plans consular processing
The beneficiary is in the United States but not eligible for change of status due to status gaps or other issues
The beneficiary plans to leave the United States before approval and apply for an H 1B visa abroad
These fact patterns can change whether the $100000 payment is triggered.
Frequently Asked Questions During Registration
Is the registration period open right now
Yes. The FY 2027 H 1B registration period runs March 4, 2026 through March 19, 2026 at noon Eastern.
What is the H 1B registration fee for FY 2027
$215 per beneficiary registration.
Does an F 1 to H 1B change of status require the $100000 payment
In most cases, no, as long as the beneficiary is inside the United States and eligible for change of status.
Do H 1B transfers require lottery registration
Usually no. Transfers are generally cap exempt because the worker has already been counted against the cap.
H 1B Registration Support in Houston
Relief Law PLLC helps employers and professionals with H 1B registration strategy, wage level planning under the FY 2027 selection model, change of status filings, and H 1B transfers, extensions, and amendments.
If you would like help submitting registrations or preparing a cap season filing plan, you can contact Relief Law PLLC to schedule a consultation.