Selection notices for the H-1B visa for the financial year 2027 have started rolling out, marking the next phase of the annual lottery process. The registration window closed on March 19, 2026, and employers, along with immigration attorneys, have begun receiving updates through their USCIS online accounts.
Earlier, USCIS had indicated that notifications would be sent by March 31. However, as of March 27, some applicants have already reported a change in their status to “Selected.”
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Houston-based immigration attorney Steven Brown noted in a post on X (formerly Twitter), that the process is gradual and may continue over the weekend. He added that employers and attorneys may wait before informing applicants until all notices are fully released, and that no email alerts are being sent - updates are visible only within the account.
Who can check the H-1B lottery result
At this stage, results are not available on the regular USCIS case status tool. Instead, they can only be accessed through the USCIS online account used during registration. These accounts are typically managed by employers or their legal representatives.
Applicants without access to these accounts must rely on their employer, HR team, or immigration attorney to know their status. The possible status updates include “Selected,” “Submitted,” and “Not Selected,” along with cases marked as duplicate or invalid registrations.
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Seeing H1B selection notices starting to roll in. Keep in mind, this is a SLOW process that will go throughout the weekend. Your employers and attorneys will likely wait to send things out until USCIS has announced all notices have been uploaded. No email notification, just… https://t.co/D7fAo1ifZI pic.twitter.com/ScmOMKZ0An
— Steven Brown (@AttyStevenBrown) March 27, 2026
What selected candidates should do next
If a candidate’s status shows “Selected,” the employer can proceed to file a full H-1B petition within the designated filing window. However, selection does not guarantee approval, as the petition must still be submitted with all required documentation.
If the status remains “Submitted,” applicants still have a chance in potential additional rounds. Those marked “Not Selected” will not be considered under this year’s cap.
Employers should also note that the premium processing fee has been increased to $2,965 from March 2026.
