March 2, 2026
So, remember how we all used to refresh the USCIS website obsessively every March, hoping our name would come up in a completely random lottery? Well, that era is officially over. Starting with FY 2027, the H-1B program has switched to a wage-weighted selection system. Your odds now depend—at least partly—on how much you are being paid relative to others in your field. Higher wage levels get more entries. Lower wage levels get fewer.
What Changed (The Simple Version)
Previously, every H-1B registration had an equal shot at selection—whether you were a Level I entry-level hire or a Level IV senior specialist. It was pure chance. Now? Each wage level gets a different number of entries in the lottery pool: Level IV (highest): 4 entries per registration; Level III: 3 entries; Level II: 2 entries; Level I (entry): 1 entry per registration.
Questions about your H-1B strategy? and we will review your situation.
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Book Strategy SessionAbout the Author
Jinwen Liu
Managing Attorney
Attorney Jinwen Liu is the founder of Yingzhong Law Offices in San Jose, California, with 10+ years of U.S. immigration law experience. She focuses on EB-1A extraordinary ability, NIW, EB-5 investor, and H-1B petitions, and is recognized for her strategic case framing, meticulous evidence preparation, and complex RFE defense. A former immigrant herself, she provides bilingual counsel in English and Chinese. She received legal training at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law and is a member of AILA.
