H-1B Visa Selection Notices Begin Rolling Out: Who Can Check Their Status and What It Means for Applicants

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, started sending H-1B visa selection notifications for the 2027 financial year on March 27, 2026, following the closure of the registration period, which ended on March 19. 

Employers and their representatives who registered for the electronic lottery can now check their status online through their accounts. 

Selected registration notifications allow petitions to be submitted from April 1 to June 30 at USCIS service centers. 

85,000 visas for skilled laborers in tech, engineering, and other fields are available, and the competition is high, with over 300,000 entries. 

Check for "Selected," "Not Selected," and "Submitted" status through the myUSCIS portal using receipt numbers.

H-1B Visa Selection Notices Begin Rolling Out: Who Can Check Their Status?

Employers or representatives who registered the beneficiary in March 2026 can check the H-1B Visa Lottery through the myUSCIS portal. 

They can check the notices, as USCIS promised this update would be live by March 31. You cannot check yourself; you have to download the selection letter and notify the workers.

"Selected" means you proceed with the petitions, whereas "Submitted" keeps you in the running for future rounds. Check every day, as the process happens in waves and you won't get emails.

What It Means for H-1B Visa Lottery Applicants?

Selection provides no visa approval but rather permission to submit H-1B Visa Form I-129 within 90 days, which includes LCA issued by DOL, fees, and docs such as diplomas. 

Workers under cap will start October 1, 2027, if selected. Not selected? Consider OPT extensions or O-1 visas. Employers must also match lottery wage levels to avoid rejection.

Next Steps After Checking H-1B Status

Be prepared to file the LCA certification right away if accepted, and then file the I-129 along with the support letters and itineraries. 

Premium processing, which costs $2,805, reduces the wait to only 15 days. Status is available by receipt number after filing.

Check: H-1B, Green Card Fees Set to Jump

H-1B seekers are anticipating approval for the summer, in preparation for jobs in FY2027 that power the American innovation machine.