When does H-1B registration open for FY2027 and how much does it cost?

TL;DR: The FY2027 H-1B initial registration period opens at noon Eastern on March 4, 2026 and closes March 19, 2026. USCIS intends to notify selected registrants by March 31, 2026. The fee is $215 per registration, nonrefundable, paid by the sponsoring employer.

The claim

USCIS runs H-1B selection through an electronic registration system before any full petition is filed. For the FY2027 cap, that registration window is short — about two weeks in March 2026 — and every beneficiary needs a separate $215 registration submitted by their employer.

The evidence

Per USCIS's official H-1B Electronic Registration Process page and its January 30, 2026 newsroom alert: the FY2027 registration period runs from noon Eastern on March 4, 2026 through March 19, 2026, with USCIS aiming to notify selected registrants by March 31, 2026. The registration fee is confirmed at $215 per beneficiary.

FY2026 cap season by the numbers (for context)

Step by step: how to register

1. Employer/attorney creates a myUSCIS registrant account (if not already set up).
2. Add company clients to the account — this can happen before the window opens.
3. Enter beneficiary information (name, passport number, date of birth) once the window opens March 4.
4. Pay the $215 registration fee per beneficiary and submit before March 19.
5. Wait for selection notice, expected by March 31, 2026.
6. If selected, the employer has a filing window to submit the full Form I-129 petition.

FAQ

What if I'm not selected? Unselected registrations roll over only if USCIS conducts a second (or later) selection round to fill the cap; otherwise you must wait for the next fiscal year's registration period.

Can the same person be registered more than once? Only legitimately by separate, unrelated employers each making a real job offer — see our related page on H-1B multiple registration rules for the fraud risks of duplicate filings.

Does the $215 fee cover the full petition? No — it only covers registration/lottery entry. If selected, employers still pay the I-129 filing fee, ACWIA fee, fraud prevention fee, and (for many cap-subject petitions) the separate $100,000 supplemental fee introduced in 2025.

Is premium processing available at the registration stage? No. Premium processing (15 business days, currently $2,805) only applies once the full I-129 petition is filed after selection.

By Pinal Dave Last updated: 2026-07-25