USCIS Closes FY 2027 H-1B Cap: No Second Lottery & What OPT Students Must Do Next
USCIS has officially announced that the 85,000 petition limit for FY 2027 has been reached. There will be no second lottery this year. Here are your backup options.
The FY 2027 H-1B Cap is officially closed.
On July 17, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) made the announcement that many F-1 students on OPT were dreading: the FY 2027 H-1B cap has been reached, and there will be no second lottery.
USCIS confirmed that they have received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B regular cap and the 20,000 U.S. advanced degree exemption (master’s cap) for fiscal year 2027.
What Does This Mean?
If your employer submitted a registration for you in March but you were not selected, your registration status will soon be updated to "Not Selected." You cannot rely on a second lottery to save your status this year. You must immediately pivot to a backup plan.
Backup Plans for Unselected OPT Students
If your OPT or STEM OPT is expiring soon and you didn't get selected, you are not out of options. Depending on your situation, here are the most viable alternatives to remain and work legally in the U.S.
1. STEM OPT Extension
If you are currently on your first year of 12-month post-completion OPT and you have a STEM degree, apply for the 24-month STEM OPT extension immediately. This gives you two more chances at the H-1B lottery in FY 2028 and FY 2029.
2. Cap-Exempt H-1B
Universities, non-profit research organizations, and government research entities are exempt from the 85,000 cap. If you secure a job with one of these employers, they can file an H-1B for you at any time of the year.
3. O-1 Visa (Extraordinary Ability)
If you have authored papers, received awards, or commanded a high salary in your field, you may qualify for the O-1 visa. It has no cap and can be applied for at any time.
4. L-1 Visa (Intracompany Transfer)
If your company has international offices, you can relocate to work in a foreign branch for one year, and then return to the U.S. on an L-1 visa.
What About Day 1 CPT?
Many students consider enrolling in a second master's program that offers Day 1 CPT to continue working. While legal if properly executed, Day 1 CPT is heavily scrutinized by USCIS. If you choose this route, ensure the university is properly accredited, you physically attend classes, and the job is directly tied to your new curriculum.
Track Your Deadlines Carefully
With the H-1B door closed for this year, managing your remaining OPT days is more critical than ever. Remember that under the new 2026 Duration of Status rules, your grace period upon completion of OPT is now just 30 days.
Don't Lose Track of Your OPT Dates
Use TrackMyOPT to monitor your exact OPT expiration, unemployment days, and visa grace periods so you never fall out of status unexpectedly.
Start Tracking for FreeFrequently Asked Questions
What happens if I didn't get selected in the H-1B lottery?
If you were not selected, your status will change to 'Not Selected.' You should immediately explore backup options such as the STEM OPT extension, cap-exempt H-1B, O-1, or L-1 visas.
Will there be a second H-1B lottery for FY 2027?
No. USCIS has officially announced that they have received enough petitions to meet the cap for FY 2027, so there will not be a second lottery this year.
Can I use Day 1 CPT as an alternative to H-1B?
While Day 1 CPT is an option, it is heavily scrutinized by USCIS. Ensure the university is accredited and your employment is directly tied to the new curriculum.
Written by Vinay Kumar
Vinay is a content writer at TrackMyOPT who specializes in immigration guidance for international students. All content is researched using official USCIS, SEVP, and Department of Labor sources and reviewed for accuracy by the TrackMyOPT team, which includes former F-1 students who navigated OPT, STEM OPT, and H-1B transitions firsthand.