H-1B Lottery for Students: March 2026 Timeline, What Employers Need, and What You Can Do Now
TL;DR
• The FY 2027 H-1B lottery registration window runs March 4–19, 2026, with selection notifications expected by March 31. Your employer must register you before the deadline.
• A new wage-based weighted lottery (effective Feb 27, 2026) replaces the random system: Level IV positions get 4x the selection odds of entry-level roles.
• Total employer costs range from ~$3,600 (domestic change of status) to $106,000+ if the $100K supplemental fee applies, but most F-1 students changing status from within the U.S. are exempt from the $100K fee.
• The cap-gap extension now runs through April 1 (expanded from October 1), so your OPT work authorization stays valid longer while your H-1B petition is pending.
• Programs like Externships qualify for CPT and give you resume-ready professional experience while you're still in school. That makes you more competitive for OPT roles and more attractive to employers who sponsor H-1B.
• Talk to your employer and an immigration attorney now, not after the March 4 window opens.
If you're an international student in the U.S., the H-1B lottery is probably the single most stressful thing on your radar right now. The FY 2027 H-1B lottery 2026 registration window is weeks away, and this year is different. USCIS is rolling out a wage-based weighted selection system that changes who gets picked and how. The old random lottery? Gone.
This guide covers the full March 2026 timeline, what your employer actually has to do on their end, how OPT and CPT connect to H-1B, and what you should be doing right now. Whether you're graduating this spring or a few semesters out, this is for you.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Immigration law is complex and changes frequently. Always consult with a qualified immigration attorney and your Designated School Official (DSO) for guidance specific to your situation.
Explore how Externships help you build resume-ready professional experience →
What Is the H-1B Lottery and Why Does It Matter for International Students?
The H-1B is a nonimmigrant work visa that lets U.S. employers hire foreign workers in "specialty occupations," meaning roles that require at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field. For international students finishing degrees at American universities, it's the main route to staying and working in the country long-term.
How the H-1B Cap Works
Congress caps new H-1B visas at 85,000 per fiscal year:
• 65,000 for the regular cap (open to all qualifying applicants)
• 20,000 for the U.S. advanced degree exemption (master's or higher from a U.S. institution)
Last year, over 336,000 people registered for those 85,000 spots. The math doesn't work. So USCIS runs a lottery to decide who even gets the chance to file a petition. If your employer's registration isn't selected, that's it. You can't apply.
Quick note on the naming: FY 2027 is the cap season happening in March 2026. The fiscal year starts October 1, 2026. Confusing, but that's the convention.
Source: USCIS H-1B Specialty Occupations
Why Students Should Care Before Graduation
Most students don't piece this together until it's too late: the H-1B process kicks off months before you'd start working. Your employer registers you in March. If selected, they file the petition by June. Your actual H-1B employment? That doesn't begin until October.
So if you're graduating in May 2026 and want a shot at the lottery, your employer should already be talking to their immigration attorney. Right now. Not in April. Now.
And here's the uncomfortable part. If you don't get selected, you're depending on OPT or STEM OPT to keep working legally. Which is exactly why you need to understand how all these pieces fit together before you're in the middle of it.
What Are the Key Dates for the 2026 H-1B Lottery?
USCIS has officially announced the FY 2027 timeline. Pin this somewhere:
Source: USCIS FY 2027 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens March 4
That's 15 days. Your employer has to complete the electronic registration and pay the $215 fee within that window. No extensions. No late submissions.
What Happens If You're Not Selected?
Not getting picked in the initial round isn't necessarily the end. USCIS has run second lotteries in previous years when selected registrants didn't follow through with filing. That happened in FY 2026.
If you're not selected at all, your options include:
• Continue working on OPT or STEM OPT if your authorization is still valid
• Ask your employer to re-register you for next year's lottery (FY 2028)
• Explore cap-exempt employers like universities, nonprofit research organizations, or government research entities. Positions at these employers don't count against the 85,000 cap.
• Consider an employer transfer to a cap-exempt entity if the opportunity exists
This is where having a good immigration attorney matters. They can map out which path makes sense given your specific timeline and status.
How Does the New Weighted H-1B Lottery Work?
OK, this is the big one. For the FY 2027 cap season, USCIS is ditching the random lottery entirely. In its place: a wage-based weighted selection system. The final rule dropped December 29, 2025, and it takes effect February 27, 2026, just days before registration opens.
Here's what the new system looks like:
Source: USCIS — DHS Changes Process for Awarding H-1B Work Visas
Wage levels come from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data, which varies by job title and location. A Level I software developer in San Francisco has a different salary threshold than one in Austin. The level your employer assigns you at registration is what determines your entries.
What This Means for Entry-Level Candidates
Straight talk: if you're a recent grad coming in at a Level I wage, your odds just dropped. A ~15% projected selection rate versus ~35% under the old random system. That's a real difference.
But it's not a reason to spiral. Here's what you can actually do about it:
• Negotiate your salary. Going from Level I to Level II doubles your lottery entries. That's a conversation worth having with your employer, even if it feels awkward.
• Target companies that pay above entry-level. Higher cost-of-living cities and industries with tight labor markets often start people at Level II or above without you having to push for it.
• Use STEM OPT as a runway. A STEM degree gives you up to 3 years of work authorization, enough for three lottery cycles. Each year you work, your wage level likely goes up too.
• Look at cap-exempt positions. Universities, nonprofit research institutions, and government research organizations skip the lottery entirely. No cap. No randomness.
The bottom line: ask your employer and their attorney what wage level your position falls under. Under the new system, that one number shapes everything.
How Selection Rates Have Changed Over Time
Before you assume the worst, some context. Overall selection rates have actually been trending up:
That huge drop from FY 2024 to FY 2025? USCIS implemented the beneficiary-centric selection system, which killed the practice of employers filing multiple registrations for the same person through different shell companies. Fewer junk registrations = better odds for everyone playing it straight.
The open question for FY 2027: how does the weighted system redistribute who gets selected? The cap stays at 85,000. But the mix of winners will look very different.
What Does Your Employer Need to Do to Sponsor You?
Most of what you'll find online about H-1B sponsorship is written for lawyers. But you're the student trying to figure out what your employer is supposed to be doing, and whether they're actually doing it. So let's break it down.
Registration Requirements (Before March 4)
Here's what your employer (or their immigration attorney) needs to handle for the FY 2027 cap:
1. Create or access a USCIS online account. The electronic registration system is the only way in.
2. Enter your information: name, date of birth, passport number, educational background, and the proposed job details including wage level.
3. Pay the $215 registration fee, per beneficiary, nonrefundable, whether you're selected or not.
4. Submit before March 19, 2026 at noon ET. Miss the deadline and you're out for the year.
One thing that's different now: USCIS uses a beneficiary-centric system. One registration per person, period. If two employers try to register you, both get invalidated. This is the system that cleaned up the fraudulent mass-registrations from a few years ago.
Full Employer Cost Breakdown
If your registration is selected, here's what your employer is on the hook for when filing the actual H-1B petition:
Sources: DavidsonMorris, Gozel Law
Important: By law, the employer must cover most of these. They can't pass filing costs to you. (The $215 registration fee and premium processing can sometimes be shared; your attorney can clarify.)
The $100K Fee: Who Actually Pays It?
You've seen the $100,000 headlines. They're scary. But here's the part most coverage buries:
The $100,000 supplemental fee comes from a Presidential Proclamation issued September 19, 2025. It covers new H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025 through September 21, 2026.
But if you're an F-1 student already in the U.S. and your employer files for a Change of Status (COS), the standard F-1-to-H-1B path, this fee does not apply.
USCIS has confirmed it. The $100K fee targets beneficiaries outside the U.S. who need consular processing. About 75% of H-1B workers came through U.S. universities via domestic change of status and would be exempt.
There are edge cases. Your situation might be one. That's why you need your immigration attorney to look at the specifics. Don't rely on headlines or Reddit threads for something this consequential.
Sources: Yale OISS, BakerHostetler
How Do OPT and CPT Connect to the H-1B Process?
If you're on an F-1 visa, OPT and CPT aren't just random acronyms in your DSO's emails. They're the steps between where you are now and H-1B employment. Getting the sequencing wrong can cost you years.
What Is OPT and How Does It Lead to H-1B?
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary work authorization for F-1 students in a job related to your field of study. After graduation:
• 12 months of post-completion OPT (available to all F-1 students)
• 24 additional months of STEM OPT extension (if your degree is STEM-designated and your employer uses E-Verify)
So a STEM graduate can work for up to 36 months on OPT. That's three lottery cycles. Non-STEM grads get 12 months. One shot while on OPT.
If you're choosing a major or thinking about grad school, this is genuinely worth factoring into your decision. The extra 24 months aren't just nice to have. Under the new weighted lottery where entry-level odds sit around 15%, those extra cycles could be the difference.
What Is CPT and When Does It Apply?
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) lets you work during your studies, but only if the position is integrated into your academic program. Co-ops, required practicums, and programs that mandate professional experience all qualify.
The big thing to watch:
• CPT requires DSO authorization before you start
• The position must tie to your academic program
• 12+ months of full-time CPT makes you ineligible for OPT. This is the rule that catches people off guard. Part-time CPT is fine. It doesn't touch your OPT eligibility.
CPT is a solid way to build real professional experience and employer relationships while you're still in school. But plan it with your DSO so you don't accidentally burn your OPT eligibility.
Programs like Externships can help you build the skills and employer connections that lead to H-1B sponsorship down the line.
The Cap-Gap Extension: Your Safety Net Through April 1
Some actual good news. As of January 2025, the cap-gap extension got a major upgrade.
Here's the problem it solves: your OPT might expire before October 1, when your H-1B would kick in. Previously, this automatic extension of your F-1 status and work authorization only lasted through October 1. Now it runs through April 1 of the following year.
That's a six-month buffer. To qualify:
1. Be in valid F-1 status
2. Be on a valid period of post-completion OPT or STEM OPT
3. Be named as the beneficiary of a timely filed, cap-subject H-1B petition requesting change of status
4. Not have violated your immigration status terms
If your H-1B is still processing after October 1, you keep your work authorization through April 1, 2027. One less thing to lose sleep over.
Sources: USCIS Cap-Gap Regulations, Study in the States
What Policy Changes Should International Students Know About in 2026?
The immigration landscape has shifted. Some of these changes affect your daily life on campus. Others affect your long-term planning. All of them are worth knowing about.
ICE Enforcement on Campuses
On January 20, 2025, the administration rescinded the "protected areas" policy, the guideline that had kept ICE from conducting enforcement actions in or near schools, hospitals, and places of worship since 2011. Campuses no longer carry that protection.
What's happened since:
• Over 4,700 international students had their SEVIS records terminated, often without prior notice
• More than 1,600 student visas were revoked
• At least 8 students and professors were arrested by ICE on or near university campuses
• Over 100 lawsuits have been filed challenging these actions
• Federal judges granted temporary restraining orders in at least 50 cases
• In April 2025, the DOJ announced the government would temporarily restore previously terminated SEVIS records for thousands of students
As of February 2026, litigation is still active in multiple federal courts. ICE is developing a new formal framework for SEVIS terminations.
Sources: TIME, NPR, National Immigration Forum
The Duration of Status Proposal
On August 28, 2025, DHS published a proposed rule that would overhaul how long international students can stay in the U.S. If finalized, it would:
• Replace "Duration of Status" (D/S) with a maximum 4-year fixed stay for F-1 and J-1 visa holders
• Cut the grace period from 60 days to 30 days after completing your program
• Restrict program changes: undergrads couldn't switch majors in the first academic year; grad students couldn't change programs at all
• Block repeat-level enrollment: finishing a bachelor's would mean you can't use F-1 status for another bachelor's
This is still a proposal. It has not been finalized. As of February 2026, it's not in effect. But if it does get finalized, it would mean applying for extensions rather than staying in status automatically for the length of your program. Worth keeping on your radar.
Source: Federal Register — Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission
What This Means for Your Planning
Look, the policy environment is complicated right now. That makes the boring stuff more important than ever:
• Keep your I-20 current. Program dates, employer info, OPT/CPT authorizations. Everything should be accurate in SEVIS.
• Stay tight with your DSO. They hear about policy changes before they hit the news. They can't give legal advice, but they know what's happening at your school.
• Keep copies of everything. Digital and physical. I-20, EAD card, passport, visa stamps, any USCIS or ICE correspondence. Store them somewhere safe and accessible.
• Don't let your status lapse. In this climate, even small violations carry bigger consequences. If you're unsure about something, ask your DSO or attorney first. Always.
What Can You Do Right Now? Your H-1B Action Plan
Enough context. Here's what to actually do, based on where you are.
If You're Graduating in 2026
Your clock is running. Here's what should be in motion already:
1. Apply for OPT now if you haven't. You can file up to 90 days before your program end date and must file within 60 days after.
2. Confirm your employer will sponsor H-1B. Have the direct conversation with HR. Don't just assume because the offer letter looked promising.
3. Make sure their immigration attorney is ready. The attorney needs to be set up in USCIS's system and prepared to register you on March 4.
4. Ask about your wage level. This is the new variable that determines your lottery odds. You deserve to know where your position falls.
5. Know your backup plan. STEM OPT eligible? You have runway. Not eligible? Start mapping alternatives now, not in April.
Building professional experience and career-ready skills that employers value strengthens both your H-1B case and your long-term career, whatever the lottery outcome.
If You're Still in School
You've got time. That's your biggest advantage. Use it:
1. Pick a STEM-designated degree program if it aligns with what you want to do. The 24-month STEM OPT extension gives you way more flexibility in the H-1B process.
2. Build employer relationships now through CPT, Externships, and professional experience. Companies that already know your work are far more willing to sponsor.
3. Research sponsorship track records on sites like myvisajobs.com before applying for roles or accepting offers.
4. Learn the H-1B process now. Understanding it before your final semester takes away the panic.
5. Build strong credentials. Under the weighted lottery, higher wages mean better odds. Strong skills and experience help you command a higher salary from day one.
How Externships Help You Build Toward H-1B Sponsorship
Here's something most students don't think about until it's too late: the strongest H-1B candidates aren't just good on paper. They've already proven they can do the work. Employers don't sponsor people they're taking a chance on. They sponsor people they've seen deliver.
That's what an Externship actually gives you. It's a short-term, project-based professional experience with a real company. You work on company-endorsed projects with guided support from an extern manager, and you walk away with a resume-ready credential. Not a simulation. Not a case study. Real professional experience.
Why this matters for your H-1B path:
• They qualify for CPT. If your school's program supports it, you can use an Externship as your Curricular Practical Training. You get real professional experience and employer connections while still in school, without burning your OPT eligibility (just stay under 12 months of full-time CPT).
• You'll actually have something to show when you apply for OPT roles. Post-graduation job applications are brutal for international students. Everyone has the same coursework. Externship credentials let you point to specific projects and outcomes, which is what hiring managers care about.
• Think about the new weighted lottery for a second. Your wage level determines your odds. If Externship experience helps you land a Level II role instead of Level I, that's 2x the lottery entries. The professional experience you build now has a direct line to your selection chances in March.
If You Weren't Selected Last Year
You went through it once. Here's how to come back stronger:
1. Re-register for FY 2027. Tell your employer to submit a new registration during March 4–19.
2. Stay on STEM OPT if you're still within your 36-month window. This is your legal basis for working while you try again.
3. Look at cap-exempt employers: universities, nonprofit research organizations, and government research entities are not subject to the annual cap. No lottery. You can file anytime.
4. Watch for a second lottery. If USCIS doesn't get enough petitions from the first round, they pull more names later in the year.
5. Reassess your wage level. A year of experience may push you from Level I to Level II. Under the weighted system, that doubles your entries. Ask your attorney.
Who Should You Talk To About H-1B Sponsorship?
This guide gives you the context to understand what's happening. But immigration decisions are too high-stakes to figure out alone. Here's who you need in your corner.
Your Designated School Official (DSO)
Your DSO is your first call for anything F-1-related. They handle:
• OPT and CPT applications and authorizations
• SEVIS record maintenance and updates
• I-20 endorsements and extensions
• Guidance on staying in valid F-1 status
They can't advise you on H-1B petitions specifically. But they're essential for keeping the F-1 foundation solid, and that foundation is what your entire H-1B transition depends on.
An Immigration Attorney
For H-1B questions (eligibility, the weighted lottery, the $100K fee, RFEs, long-term strategy), you need a qualified immigration attorney. They can:
• Evaluate your specific eligibility and options
• Advise on wage level optimization under the weighted system
• Determine whether the $100K supplemental fee applies to you
• Handle Requests for Evidence from USCIS
• Map out your long-term immigration path
Most employers who sponsor H-1B already have an immigration law firm on retainer. Ask who they work with and whether you can communicate with the attorney directly.
Your Employer's HR Team
Start early. Be specific. These are the questions that matter:
• "Does the company sponsor H-1B visas?" Get a yes or no, not a maybe.
• "When will your immigration attorney begin the registration process?" You want to hear "already started" or "by late February."
• "What wage level would my position fall under?" This shapes your lottery odds more than anything else now.
• "What happens if I'm not selected?" Will they keep you on OPT and re-register next year?
Employers who sponsor H-1B visas expect these questions. If someone gets uncomfortable or evasive when you ask, that tells you something too.
Start building the professional experience that opens doors to sponsorship opportunities →
FAQs
When is the H-1B lottery registration for 2026?
The FY 2027 H-1B lottery registration opens on March 4, 2026 at noon Eastern and closes on March 19, 2026 at noon Eastern. Your employer must register you during this 15-day window through the USCIS online system and pay the $215 registration fee per beneficiary. Selection notifications are expected by March 31, 2026. If selected, your employer then has a 90-day window (April 1 – June 30) to file the full H-1B petition. (Source: USCIS)
How does the new weighted H-1B lottery work?
Starting with the FY 2027 cap season, USCIS uses a wage-based weighted selection system instead of a random lottery. Positions at OEWS Wage Level IV get 4 entries, Level III gets 3, Level II gets 2, and Level I gets 1 entry. This means higher-paying positions have up to 4x the selection odds of entry-level roles (~61% vs. ~15% projected selection rate). The final rule was published December 29, 2025 and took effect February 27, 2026. (Source: USCIS)
Do F-1 students have to pay the $100,000 H-1B fee?
In most cases, no. The $100,000 supplemental fee (from the September 2025 Presidential Proclamation) primarily applies to H-1B beneficiaries outside the U.S. seeking consular processing. If you're an F-1 student already in the U.S. and your employer files for a Change of Status, this fee does not apply. USCIS has confirmed this exemption. Approximately 75% of H-1B workers transitioned from U.S. universities via domestic change of status. (Sources: Yale OISS, BakerHostetler)
What is the H-1B cap-gap extension and how does it help students?
The cap-gap extension automatically extends your F-1 status and OPT work authorization if you're the beneficiary of a timely filed, cap-subject H-1B petition requesting change of status. As of January 2025, this extension runs through April 1 of the following year (previously only through October 1). This means you won't have a gap in your work authorization while waiting for your H-1B to take effect. (Sources: USCIS, Study in the States)
How can Externships help international students prepare for H-1B sponsorship?
Externships give you project-based professional experience with real companies, and they qualify for CPT at many schools. That means you can build your resume and employer connections without burning your OPT eligibility. When it's time to apply for post-graduation roles, you're not just listing coursework; you can point to actual projects and outcomes. That matters. It also helps you land higher-paying offers, which is a bigger deal than it sounds: under the new weighted lottery, a Level II wage gets you 2x the selection odds of Level I. And since many Externship host companies sponsor H-1B visas, you're building relationships with potential sponsors before you even graduate.
