Overview
- The final DHS rule takes effect Feb. 27, 2026 and will govern the upcoming H‑1B cap registration in March for FY 2027 selections.
- The system weights entries by Department of Labor wage level—Level IV gets four entries, Level III three, Level II two, and Level I one—reducing selection odds for entry‑level roles.
- DHS projects first‑year total H‑1B wages to rise by about $502 million to roughly $9.36 billion, with upward wage transfers estimated at $858 million in year one and about $4.29 billion annually by year five.
- Employers must designate a Standard Occupational Classification code, job location, and wage level at registration and later document them on Form I‑129, with private wage surveys defaulting to Level I for selection weighting.
- The administration links the overhaul to a presidential policy imposing a $100,000 H‑1B fee, which faces legal challenges, even as the annual cap remains 65,000 plus 20,000 for U.S. master’s degree holders.