H-1B Visa Lottery 2026: How the New Weighted Selection System Works

The H-1B visa lottery 2026 season looks completely different from previous years. On December 29, 2025, DHS published a final rule that means the random H-1B visa lottery is replaced by a wage-weighted selection process. The rule takes effect Feb 27, 2026, in time for the FY 2027 H-1B visa lottery registration period (March 4–19, 2026).

Under the old system, every H-1B registration had the same roughly 30% chance of being selected, regardless of salary or experience. Under the new H-1B visa lottery changes, your odds depend on your wage level (a government ranking from Level I to Level IV based on how your salary compares to others in your occupation and area). A Level IV position gets 4 entries into the selection pool. A Level I position gets 1. That's a shift in who gets selected and when H-1B lottery results come back in your favor.

How the H-1B visa lottery 2026 weighted selection works

The new system ties your H-1B visa lottery odds to your prevailing wage level, which is based on the Department of Labor's Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data. Wage levels range from Level I (entry-level) to Level IV (highly experienced), and they're specific to your occupation and geographic area.

Here's how the weighting breaks down:

Source: DHS final rule, Federal Register, based on projected selection rates using historical registration data.

The key takeaway: if you're at Level I, your chances are cut nearly in half. If you're at Level IV, your chances more than double. Level II stays roughly the same.

Why high salaries don't always mean more entries under the H-1B visa lottery changes

The weighted system doesn't use your absolute salary. It uses your wage level, which compares your salary to others in your specific occupation and location. A $300,000 salary can still be Level I if it's entry-level for that specialty in that metro area.

Real examples from H-1B visa petitions:

Under the weighted H-1B visa lottery, the landscape architect in this example would get 4 entries vs. the surgeon's 1, despite earning a fraction of the salary. That's because the surgeon's $300,000 is entry-level for that specialty, while the landscape architect's $36,090 represents the top of their field's pay scale in their location.

How to check your wage level for the H-1B visa lottery in2026

You need to look up your wage level before registration opens. Here's how:

Step 1: Find your SOC code

Your Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code determines which wage data applies to you. Use O*NET OnLine to match your actual job responsibilities (not just your job title) to a SOC code. For example, "Financial and Investment Analysts" is SOC 13-2051.00.

Step 2: Use the FLAG wage search tool

Go to the OFLC Wage Search:

• Select the current year's data series
• Choose "All Industries" (or "ACWIA" for academic roles)
• Enter your SOC code

Step 3: Filter by your work location

Prevailing wages are location-specific. A software developer in San Francisco has a much higher wage floor than one in Phoenix. Select your state and metro area to see the four wage levels for your occupation in your location.

Step 4: Compare your offered salary

The tool will show four dollar amounts (Level I through Level IV). Your wage level is the highest level that your offered salary meets or exceeds:

• If Level II is $80,000 and Level III is $110,000, a salary of $115,000 qualifies as Level III (3 entries)
• If your salary falls below Level I, you can still register at Level I (1 entry)

How to improve your H-1B visa lottery 2026 odds

The weighted system creates real strategic decisions. Here are the most effective ways to improve your chances:

Negotiate salary to reach the next wage level

This is the most direct lever. If your offered salary is $5,000 below the Level III threshold, negotiating that bump could mean the difference between 2 and 3 lottery entries, a 50% increase in your odds. Use the FLAG wage search to identify exactly where the thresholds are for your occupation and location.

One caveat: employers can't inflate wages beyond what the position and their financials support. USCIS has indicated it will scrutinize petitions where the wage level on the petition doesn't match the registration, and DHS has flagged "artificially inflated wages" as an integrity concern.

Target cap-exempt employers

University hospitals, nonprofit research organizations, and government research institutions are cap-exempt. They skip the lottery entirely. No weighted selection, no annual cap, no uncertainty. If you can find a qualifying position at a cap-exempt employer, none of this lottery math matters.

Consider your work location

Because wage levels are location-specific, the same salary can qualify for different levels depending on where you work. A $90,000 software developer salary might be Level I in San Francisco but Level III in a smaller metro. If your employer has offices in multiple locations, it's worth discussing which worksite gives you the strongest wage level.

However, don't game this. USCIS has built in protections: if you work at multiple locations, they use the lowest wage level across all sites. And the petition must match the registration details, or it risks denial.

Leverage your master's degree

If you hold a master's degree or higher from a U.S. institution, you're entered in the lottery twice. First, your weighted entries go into the 65,000 regular cap pool alongside everyone else. If you're not selected there, you get a second chance in the separate 20,000 advanced degree pool (only open to U.S. master's and higher degree holders). A master's degree holder at Level III effectively has a cumulative selection probability well above 45%.

FY 2027 H-1B visa lottery 2026 timeline and H-1B lottery results dates

Here are the key dates for the upcoming season:

Source: USCIS H-1B Electronic Registration Process

Registration fee is $215 per beneficiary (non-refundable), paid through Pay.gov. Employers must provide SOC code, OEWS wage level, and area of intended employment at registration.

How the H-1B visa lottery 2026 interacts with the $100,000 fee

The weighted lottery and the $100,000 supplemental fee are separate policies, but they interact in important ways.

If you're selected in the FY 2027 lottery and your employer files the petition for consular processing (meaning you're abroad without a valid H-1B visa), the $100,000 fee applies on top of the standard filing fees. If you're in the U.S. and your employer files for change of status, the fee does not apply.

DHS has acknowledged that "the combined effect of the two policies could further disadvantage businesses that lack the resources to pay the $100,000 fee and higher wages." In practice, this may mean fewer total registrations in the FY 2027 lottery, which could actually improve selection odds for everyone who does register.

How to find jobs with H-1B visa sponsors

Migrate Mate allows you to can filter visa sponsorship jobs by:

• Visa type: H-1B visa, green card, TN visa, OPT, etc
• Occupation: Search by job title
• Location: Filter by state or city
• Salary range: Target positions at Level II–IV wages for better H-1B visa lottery odds

Each employer listing shows their sponsorship track record for the past year, so you can see which companies are actively filing and at what volume.

Frequently Asked Questions