The FY2027 H-1B Wage-Weighted Lottery: How Your Odds Changed

Updated 2026-06-07

For the FY2027 H-1B cap (registration ran March 4-19, 2026), the selection process changed in a big way: it is no longer a flat random draw. It now weights selection by wage level.

How the weighting works

Under the rule (effective February 27, 2026), each registration gets entries based on the offered wage level relative to the prevailing wage:

• Wage Level IV (highest): 4 entries
• Wage Level III: 3 entries
• Wage Level II: 2 entries
• Wage Level I (entry): 1 entry

More entries means a higher chance of selection. Modeling discussed publicly suggested higher-paid registrations could see meaningfully better odds than entry-level ones.

Does this hurt Indian applicants?

Only modestly. The Penn Wharton Budget Model projected the wage weighting would reduce India's share of selections by about 2.14 percentage points (from roughly 67.6% to 65.5%). India remains, by far, the largest group of selected registrants.

What to do with this

You usually cannot change your wage level just to game the lottery, but understanding where you fall helps you plan a backup. If your odds are low, line up alternatives before results come out.

Modeled estimates; actual odds depend on the full pool and are not published in advance. Sources: USCIS registration notices; Penn Wharton Budget Model. Not legal advice.