Getting an H-1B through the cap lottery follows the same calendar every year, but it is easy to lose track of what happens when. Pick your start year, your current status and the wage level of your offer to see each step, your lottery weight and the fees to plan for.
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How the H-1B cap calendar works
Your employer registers you online in March. USCIS runs the lottery and sends selection notices by the end of March. If you are selected, your employer files the full I-129 petition starting April 1, with a filing window of at least 90 days. Approved cap petitions start on October 1, the first day of the federal fiscal year. For FY 2027, registration ran from March 4 to March 19, 2026. Check USCIS for each year’s dates.
Weighted selection by wage level
Starting with the FY 2027 season, the lottery is weighted by the wage level of the offer. A Level IV registration is entered four times, Level III three times, Level II twice and Level I once. A higher wage level raises your odds, but it never guarantees selection.
Fees to plan for
- Registration: $215 per registration.
- Premium processing for Form I-129: $2,965 since March 1, 2026, with a decision in 15 business days.
- A $100,000 payment applies to new H-1B petitions filed on or after September 21, 2025 for people outside the U.S. Change of status, extensions and amendments approved inside the U.S. are generally exempt.
- The base I-129 filing fee depends on employer size. Your employer pays it.
Cap-gap for F-1 students
If you are on F-1 or OPT and your employer files a timely cap petition, your status and work authorization can continue until April 1 of the following year while the petition is pending or approved. This keeps you from a gap between OPT ending and the October 1 start.
This calculator gives estimates for planning only. It is not legal advice. Talk to your employer and an immigration attorney about your case.