H-1B FY 2027: What the New Wage-Weighted Lottery Actually Means for You

So, remember how we all used to refresh the USCIS website obsessively every March, hoping our name would come up in a completely random lottery? Well, that era is officially over. Starting with FY 2027, the H-1B program has switched to a wage-weighted selection system. Your odds now depend—at least partly—on how much you are being paid relative to others in your field. Higher wage levels get more entries. Lower wage levels get fewer.

What Changed (The Simple Version)

Previously, every H-1B registration had an equal shot at selection—whether you were a Level I entry-level hire or a Level IV senior specialist. It was pure chance. Now? Each wage level gets a different number of entries in the lottery pool: Level IV (highest): 4 entries per registration; Level III: 3 entries; Level II: 2 entries; Level I (entry): 1 entry per registration.

Questions about your H-1B strategy? [@portabletext/react] Unknown block type "span", specify a component for it in the `components.types` prop and we will review your situation.