H-1B Lottery results for Fiscal Year 2027 are in. Selected employers will begin filing petitions starting April 1.
The 2027 H-1B lottery results are in, though there’s no official number on how many registrations USCIS received this year, and how the first wage-based lottery this year has adapted to random lottery practices.
Choosing the registration offered by the company or the law firm that the company has appointed is the first step in the long process and does not mean that the path to the United States is open and clear. Selected employers now have a 90-day window from April 1 to June 30 to submit petitions for candidates they wish to hire. After these petitions are approved, the earliest hiring date will be October 1. But there are chances that the petition will be rejected, even though H-1B has a high approval rate, because it is intended for specialized workers.
In fiscal year 2025, 8,926 petitions were denied.
Why the specific petition can still be denied
1. Specialized profession issuesA specialty profession is one that requires specialized knowledge in a particular discipline such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). But if the petition cannot convince USCIS, USCIS may decide that the job does not qualify as a “specialized occupation.”2. Problems of the relationship between the employer and the employeeIf USCIS finds any problem with the employer-employee relationship, which is common in third-party counseling/employment cases.
This is a standard practice in which companies assign H-1Bs to their clients but USCIS can reject them if they find something unusual.3. Documentation gapsMissing or weak evidence (degree, experience, contracts, etc.)4. Business Case Application (LCA) issues.A Labor Status Application (LCA) is an application submitted by prospective employers on behalf of workers applying for work authorization for nonimmigrant status.
If there is any error or mismatch, the petition can be rejected. 5. Fraud/Misrepresentation ConcernsIf USCIS suspects any fraud, it may result in further investigation and denial6. Requests for evidence (RFE) were not met.If USCIS sends an RFE and the response is poor or late.
How many H-1B opportunities does a person get?
There is no limit or number of opportunities for an individual regarding H-1B. As long as the employer agrees to provide registration, the individual can enter the lottery. But in practice, this does not extend beyond six to seven years. STEM OPT students generally receive a work permit for three years after completing the course. Three years means three chances to enter the H-1B lottery, if the employer chooses to register.
If someone then switches to another course and then switches to a student visa again, they will get another three years in the same process.
