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Real-time H-1B policy shifts, USCIS processing signals, and immigration news — each tied back to the employer, wage, and LCA data you can verify on this platform.
Educational content only — Visa Pulse does not constitute legal advice. Immigration law is fact-specific and changes frequently. Always consult a licensed immigration attorney before making decisions about your visa status.
USCIS opened H-1B cap registration for FY 2027 on March 4, 2026 (noon ET) through March 19, 2026 (5 pm ET). A new weighted-selection rule effective Feb. 27, 2026 favors higher wage levels. Lottery selections have already begun — employers are receiving notification.
DOL Labor Condition Application (LCA) data reveals a widening salary gap between H-1B workers at tech companies versus staffing firms, with city-level wage pressure reinforcing the importance of location-specific comparisons. Here is how to read the 2026 signals.
With FY2027 registration now closed, USCIS data shows selection rates have stabilized around 14–16% for regular-cap slots. Understanding the historical range — and what drives it — matters more than headline lottery forecasts.
A Presidential Proclamation signed in 2025 reimposed and expanded restrictions on the entry of certain nonimmigrant workers into the United States, suspending new H-1B, H-2B, J, and L visa issuance at U.S. consulates for covered categories. This Visa Pulse breaks down who is affected, what the exemptions are, and what Work Visa Insights data reveals about the real-world impact.
DOL PERM processing is running 6–8 months for standard cases in March 2026, with analyst-review timing creating the biggest unpredictability. Here is what the latest queue data shows and how employers and employees can plan around it.
DOL LCA wage data for FY2025 H-1B petitions shows median wages climbing 8% year-over-year, with FAANG and AI-focused companies paying median salaries of $220,000–$320,000. Wage level distribution and employer concentration data reveal sharp stratification.
H-1B petitions filed through cap-exempt institutions — primarily universities, affiliated nonprofits, and government research entities — rose 22% in FY2025, insulating a growing segment of the technical workforce from the annual lottery.
Workers with an approved I-140 immigrant petition pending for 180+ days can change H-1B employers without losing their priority date, under AC21 portability rules. USCIS updated its guidance in 2024 to clarify same or similar occupational classification standards.
The premium processing fee for H-1B petitions increased to $2,805 in February 2024 and remains in effect for FY2027 filings. Premium processing guarantees a 15-business-day adjudication, with USCIS refunding the fee if the deadline is missed.
USCIS non-premium H-1B processing times have crept to 6–9 months at multiple service centers, creating significant risk for workers whose status expires before adjudication. Premium processing remains the practical standard for time-sensitive filings.
USCIS opened the FY2027 H-1B cap registration window on March 7, 2026. The $215 registration fee applies per beneficiary, and the lottery will run only if registrations exceed the 65,000 regular-cap and 20,000 master's-cap slots.
USCIS data through Q4 2025 shows Requests for Evidence on H-1B petitions reached 38%, with specialty occupation and third-party worksite issues driving the majority of challenges. Consulting and staffing firms are disproportionately affected.