US H-1B Work Visa All New Wage Based Selection System Launch Date

The H-1B program is entering its biggest transformation in years. For decades, selection was based on pure luck through a random lottery. Now, the U.S. government is shifting to a wage-based weighted selection system — a model designed to prioritize higher-skilled, higher-paid roles and bring more fairness and transparency to the process.

If you’re planning to apply for an H-1B in the coming cycles, this guide explains exactly how the new system works, how you can participate, and when selections were last held — and will be held next.

Wage-Based Selection System Update for H-1B Visa Issuance

Instead of giving every registration the same chance, the all new H-1B visa system assigns different selection weights based on the wage level of the job offered to the foreign worker.

In simple terms: The higher the wage level of the position, the higher the chances of selection.

How the weighting works?

Each registration of H-1B visa will be entered into the selection pool with a number of “entries” based on its wage level:

So a Level IV job has four times better odds than a Level I job — but all wage levels still remain eligible. This system keeps the lottery structure but rewards quality of employment, not just volume of registrations.

Who Can Participate in the New Wage-Based Selection?

Participation still requires employer sponsorship. You cannot enter the H-1B system independently but you can participate if:

• You have a U.S. employer willing to sponsor your H-1B.
• The job qualifies as a specialty occupation.
• The employer is ready to:
  1. Offer a wage that meets or exceeds the prevailing wage.
  2. Register you during the official H-1B cap registration window.

7 Steps to Participate in the New US Wage-Based H-1B Process

You can follow these 7 steps to get considered for H-1B Visa under new wage based selection system:

Step 1: Secure a Sponsoring Employer

Your journey starts with a job offer from a U.S. employer willing to file an H-1B petition for you so therefore the employer must define:

• Job title and duties
• Work location
• Salary offer
• SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code

These details will later determine your wage level and selection weight.

Step 2: Determine the Wage Level

Before registration, the employer evaluates the job using:

• Department of Labor wage data
• Job complexity
• Required education and experience
• Local market conditions

This assigns your role to Wage Level I, II, III, or IV — which directly affects your selection chances.

Step 3: Prepare for Registration

For the new system, accuracy matters more than ever. The employer prepares:

• Job location(s)
• Wage offer
• SOC code
• Employer details
• Beneficiary information

USCIS now cross-checks this data later when the petition is filed — inconsistencies can lead to denials or investigations.

Step 4: Submit Electronic Registration

During the official registration window (usually in March each year), the employer submits your registration in the USCIS system.

At this stage:

• No full petition yet
• Only a registration entry
• USCIS places the entry into the weighted selection pool based on wage level

Step 5: Wage-Based Selection Takes Place

Instead of a flat lottery, USCIS now conducts a weighted draw:

• Level IV entries appear more times
• Level III entries appear fewer times
• Level I entries appear once

This keeps the process fair but strategically favors higher-paid roles.

Step 6: Selection Notice

If selected, the employer receives an official Selection Notice.

Only after this can the employer:

• File the full H-1B petition (Form I-129)
• Submit supporting documents
• Finalize the wage, job duties, and location details

Step 7: Petition Filing & Final Approval

USCIS reviews:

• Wage accuracy
• Job legitimacy
• Employer compliance
• Specialty occupation criteria

If approved, the worker can start employment from October 1 of the relevant fiscal year.

When Was the Last H-1B Lottery Held?

The last H-1B lottery under the old system was held in March 2025 for the FY 2026 H-1B cap. This selection followed the traditional random, beneficiary-centric lottery model, where every eligible registration had an equal chance regardless of the offered wage level. There was no wage weighting involved in this cycle, making it the final round of the classic lottery era before the transition to the new wage-based weighted selection system beginning with the FY 2027 process.

When Will the Wage-Based Selection Be Used?

The wage-based selection system for H-1B visas will be used for the first time in the March 2026 registration cycle, which applies to the FY 2027 H-1B cap. The new rule officially takes effect on February 27, 2026, setting the stage for this historic shift in how H-1B registrations are selected. Under this system, wage level will, for the first time, play a direct role in determining selection chances, moving the process beyond a purely random lottery. For candidates selected through this new wage-weighted method, the authorized employment start date will be October 1, 2026, marking the beginning of a new era in the H-1B program.

Expected Timeline Comparison