The FY2027 H1B lottery is not the lottery you know. Registration opened March 4, 2026, and for the second year in a row, USCIS is using the wage-weighted selection system introduced in FY2026. If you filed at a Level IV prevailing wage, your odds of selection are roughly 4x better than someone at Level I. This is not a marginal difference. It is the most significant structural change to the H1B lottery in its history.
How the Wage-Weighted Lottery Works
USCIS assigns each H1B registration a number of "lottery entries" based on the offered wage's prevailing wage level:
| Wage Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level IV (significantly above prevailing) | 4 entries | ~42-48% |
| Level III (above prevailing) | 3 entries | ~32-38% |
| Level II (prevailing) | 2 entries | ~18-22% |
| Level I (entry level) | 1 entry | ~8-12% |
A Level IV applicant has roughly a 1-in-2 chance of selection. A Level I applicant has roughly a 1-in-10 chance. Same lottery, same cap, radically different odds.
The MSA Factor: Same Salary, Different Level
Your wage level is not simply how much you earn. It is your offered salary relative to the prevailing wage for your specific occupation in your specific geographic area (Metropolitan Statistical Area, or MSA).
Example for Software Developer (SOC 15-1252):
| Location | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland MSA | $128,000 | $152,000 | $176,000 | $200,000 |
| Austin-Round Rock MSA | $85,000 | $105,000 | $125,000 | $145,000 |
| Raleigh-Durham MSA | $78,000 | $98,000 | $118,000 | $138,000 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs MSA | $65,000 | $82,000 | $99,000 | $116,000 |
A $150,000 salary is Level I in San Francisco but Level IV in Austin. Same person, same skills, but 4x the lottery entries by choosing Austin.
Which Companies File at Which Wage Levels
Big Tech: Predominantly Level III-IV
Google, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, Amazon, and NVIDIA overwhelmingly file at Level III and Level IV. An H1B registration through a Big Tech company gives you 3-4 lottery entries AND a 95%+ approval rate if selected. This is the strongest position possible.
Staffing and Outsourcing Firms: Predominantly Level I-II
Companies like Infosys, TCS, Wipro, Cognizant, and HCL have historically filed large volumes at Level I and Level II. Under the new system, their employees get 1-2 lottery entries while Big Tech employees get 3-4. Combined with higher denial rates, H1B applicants at staffing firms now face both lower lottery odds and lower approval rates.
How to Improve Your FY2027 Lottery Odds
1. Negotiate Salary to Hit the Next Wage Level
This is the highest-impact action. If your offered salary is $148,000 and Level III for your SOC/MSA starts at $150,000, negotiating a $2,000 raise takes you from 2 entries to 3 entries, a 50% improvement in lottery odds for a negligible salary difference. Look up prevailing wage thresholds on the DOL Foreign Labor Application Gateway before accepting any offer.
2. Consider Work Location Strategically
If your employer offers remote work flexibility, the MSA where you physically work determines your prevailing wage level. Working from Austin instead of San Francisco on the same salary could move you from Level I to Level III or IV. The LCA must accurately reflect where you work.
3. Target the Advanced Degree Exemption
If you have a US master's degree or higher, you get two chances: first in the 20,000-slot advanced degree pool, then (if not selected) in the regular 65,000 pool. Combined with Level III-IV wages, the advanced degree exemption can push your effective selection rate above 50%.
4. Consider Cap-Exempt Employment
Universities, nonprofit research organizations, and government research institutions are entirely exempt from the H1B cap. No lottery. No wage-weighted selection. File anytime. Search cap-exempt employers on H1BSignal →
Use H1BSignal's lottery odds calculator to look up the prevailing wage for your SOC code and MSA, enter your offered salary, and see your estimated FY2027 selection odds.
To research which wage level your prospective employer typically files at, check their company filing history on H1BSignal. See also our research guides for more H1B intelligence.
FY2027 Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 4, 2026 | FY2027 registration opens |
| March 21, 2026 | Registration closes (expected) |
| Late March 2026 | Lottery results announced |
| April 1, 2026 | Earliest H1B start date for selected registrations |
| Oct 1, 2026 | FY2027 officially begins; H1B status active |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the wage-weighted system apply to H1B transfers?
No. The wage-weighted lottery only applies to cap-subject initial H1B registrations. If you already hold H1B status and are transferring to a new employer, you do not go through the lottery again.
What if my employer files at Level I — should I still apply?
Yes, but with realistic expectations. A Level I registration gives you roughly an 8-12% selection rate. Those are not great odds, but they are not zero. Meanwhile, explore whether you can negotiate a higher salary to hit Level II or whether cap-exempt employers in your field are hiring.
Does premium processing affect lottery selection?
No. Premium processing ($2,805) only affects how quickly USCIS adjudicates your petition after you are selected. You cannot pay to improve your lottery odds. Only your wage level determines your weighting.