The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially announced the timeline and groundbreaking structural changes for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 H-1B visa cap season. In a move that shifts away from a purely random selection, the new system will prioritize higher-paid and higher-skilled professionals, a change that carries significant implications for African tech talent and global recruitment strategies.
The initial registration period for the FY 2027 cap will open at noon ET on March 4, 2026, and close at noon ET on March 19, 2026. During this window, U.S. employers must register prospective employees electronically via a USCIS online organizational account.
Starting with this cycle, the Department of Homeland Security is implementing a “wage-weighted” selection process. Instead of every applicant having a single entry, the number of lottery entries a beneficiary receives will now correspond to their offered salary level according to the Department of Labor’s four-tier wage structure:
| Wage Level | Description | Lottery Entries |
| Level IV | Fully Competent/Specialized | 4 Entries |
| Level III | Experienced | 3 Entries |
| Level II | Qualified/Intermediate | 2 Entries |
| Level I | Entry Level | 1 Entry |
This system is designed to favor “the best and the brightest” while curbing the high volume of entry-level applications that have dominated previous lotteries. It remains “beneficiary-centric,” meaning each individual is selected based on their unique passport or travel document, ensuring that having multiple employers file for the same person no longer increases their odds.
The cost of participating in the H-1B program continues to rise. The non-refundable registration fee remains at $215 per beneficiary. However, a controversial $100,000 fee may now apply to certain H-1B petitions—specifically those involving consular notification (workers outside the U.S.) rather than a change of status for those already in the country. This fee, established by a recent presidential proclamation, is currently the subject of intense debate and potential legal challenges.
Additionally, USCIS has launched “Project Firewall,” an inter-agency initiative to tighten vetting. Employers must now provide more granular data regarding job descriptions and worksites during the registration phase, and the Department of State may now review the social media profiles of H-1B applicants as part of the screening process.
Prospective petitioners and African professionals seeking to move to the U.S. should note the following critical timeline:
March 4 – March 19: Electronic registration and payment of the $215 fee.
March 31: USCIS intends to notify selected registrants.
April 1: Filing window opens for formal H-1B petitions (minimum 90 days).
October 1: Earliest possible employment start date for the 2027 fiscal year.
For the USAfrica community, these changes mean that strategy is now as important as skill. Professionals with advanced degrees or those targeting high-level roles in the U.S. tech and engineering sectors will see their chances of selection significantly improved, while entry-level candidates may find the path more competitive than ever before.
