Overview
- USCIS will weight entries by DOL prevailing-wage levels, giving four entries at Level IV, three at Level III, two at Level II, and one at Level I.
- The rule takes effect on February 27, 2026 and will govern the next H-1B cap registration period, with specific lottery dates not yet announced and DOL wage-calculation changes proposed and under review.
- Numerical limits remain 65,000 for the regular cap and 20,000 for the U.S. master’s cap, and advanced-degree registrants keep the extra selection chance.
- Filed petitions must match the registration’s SOC code, area of intended employment, and wage level, and multiple employers may file if their separate registrations for the same beneficiary are selected.
- A $100,000 proclamation fee applies when beneficiaries are abroad without a valid H-1B visa unless a National Interest Exception is approved, litigation is ongoing, and USCIS is placing cases for nationals or birthplaces on the current travel-ban list on adjudicative hold.