New report — May 2026
H-1B Work
Visa Trends
2026 Update: The first real-world look at how the new wage-weighted lottery is reshaping H-1B selection — combining USCIS national data with proprietary Boundless client outcomes from the FY2027 cap season.
68% Selection rate for Level III candidates under new rules
40% Selection rate for Level I (entry-level) candidates
$100K New per-petition fee for external hires
What you'll learn:
68% Selection rate for Level III candidates under new rules
40% Selection rate for Level I (entry-level) candidates
$100K New per-petition fee for external hires
What you'll learn:
- Wage level now drives selection. Level III and IV candidates were chosen at nearly twice the rate of entry-level applicants — the first hard data on how the new system plays out in practice.
- The $100K fee is concentrating the program. Large tech companies are pulling further ahead, while startups and smaller employers face a significantly higher barrier to external international hiring.
- Not all candidates are equally affected. Master's degree holders, STEM OPT workers, and those at upper wage tiers have structural advantages — and this report shows exactly how large those advantages are.
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