How the 2027 H-1B Wage-Weighted Lottery Works
Starting with the FY2027 cycle, the H-1B lottery is no longer a pure coin flip. Higher-paid registrations get more entries — here's exactly how the wage-weighted selection works, and what it means for your odds.
What changed
For most of the program's history, the H-1B lottery was a pure random draw. Every properly filed registration had the same chance, whether the job paid an entry-level wage or a senior-level one. Because demand runs far above the 85,000 annual cap, the odds in recent years have been rough — often around one in three, or worse.
Starting with the FY2027 registration cycle, selection becomes wage-weighted. Instead of one shot per registration, a registration earns entries according to the prevailing-wage level of the offered job. Higher levels get proportionally more entries, so the same person at a higher wage level is more likely to be selected.
How wage levels become lottery entries
Every H-1B job maps to one of four DOL prevailing-wage levels for its occupation and location. Under the wage-weighted rule, each level is worth a different number of entries:
| Wage level | Who it maps to | Lottery entries |
|---|---|---|
| Level I | Entry level | 1 entry |
| Level II | Qualified | 2 entries |
| Level III | Experienced | 3 entries |
| Level IV | Fully competent / senior | 4 entries |
The level isn't set by your salary alone — it's your salary relative to the prevailing wage for that exact role in that exact metro. A $120,000 offer might be Level IV in a lower-cost metro and only Level II in the Bay Area. That's why where the job is matters as much as the number.
A worked example
Two candidates register for software roles. One is at Level II (2 entries); the other negotiated a package that clears Level IV (4 entries). In the weighted draw, the second candidate has twice the number of tickets in the same pool — a materially better chance at selection for the same single job.
- The FY2027 H-1B lottery is wage-weighted, not random.
- Entries scale with wage level: Level I = 1 … Level IV = 4.
- Your level depends on pay relative to the prevailing wage for your role and metro — so location matters.
- Clearing a higher level is the single biggest lever on your odds you can actually influence.
What this means for you
- Aim for a higher level. Negotiating from Level II to Level III or IV can double or more your entries.
- Check the metro. The same salary reaches a higher level in some markets than others. The wage-level map shows exactly where your pay lands for your role, county by county.
- Read the offer's level, not just the number. Ask where the role sits on the DOL wage scale.
What hasn't changed
- You still register during the electronic registration window; the weighting applies to selection.
- The overall cap (65,000 + 20,000 advanced-degree) is unchanged.
- Cap-exempt employers — universities and affiliated nonprofits — are outside the cap and the lottery entirely, weighted or not.
Program mechanics can change year to year; confirm the current cycle's details on uscis.gov. This is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
When does the wage-weighted H-1B lottery start?
It applies from the FY2027 registration cycle. Confirm exact dates on uscis.gov each year.
How many entries does each wage level get?
Level I gets 1 entry, Level II gets 2, Level III gets 3, and Level IV gets 4 — higher levels are more likely to be selected.
Does a higher salary guarantee H-1B selection?
No. A higher wage level improves your odds by giving you more entries, but selection is still probabilistic and depends on total registrations.
Are cap-exempt employers affected by the wage rule?
No. Universities, affiliated nonprofits, and nonprofit/government research organizations are cap-exempt — they file outside the lottery entirely.