DHS estimates, not legal advice. Last checked November 7, 2026.
Your H-1B lottery odds now depend on your salary
Since March 2026, a Level I offer gets one entry in the lottery and a Level IV offer gets four. DHS estimates that cuts entry level odds to about 15%, from about 30% before. Answer three quick questions to see yours.
Your employer picks it when they register you. Ask HR or the immigration attorney, or look up your job and city on the Department of Labor's wage search. Not sure? Compare all four in the table below.
3. How many March lotteries can you still enter?Most students reach one March registration on OPT. The 24 month STEM extension can add two more.
Every level at a glance
| Wage level | Entries | One lottery | Your total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level I (entry) | 1 | 15% | 15% |
| Level II (qualified) | 2 | 31% | 31% |
| Level III (experienced) | 3 | 46% | 46% |
| Level IV (fully competent) | 4 | 61% | 61% |
Estimated odds per registration from the final rule. Real rates move each year with the number of registrations.
What changed, with sources
- Since the FY2027 lottery, each registration is entered once per wage level: Level I once, Level II twice, Level III three times, Level IV four times. Source
- The wage level is the highest OEWS level that the offered salary meets for the job’s occupation code in the work location. Your employer picks it on the registration. Source
- DHS estimated the chance of selection at about 15% for Level I, 31% for Level II, 46% for Level III and 61% for Level IV, versus about 30% for everyone under the old lottery. Source
- For FY2027, 211,600 registrations were properly submitted, down from 343,981 the year before, so real selection rates can differ from the estimates. Source
- Universities, their affiliated nonprofits, and nonprofit or government research organizations can sponsor H-1B outside the cap, with no lottery. Source
Every U.S. job on TalentDock shows how many H-1Bs that employer actually got approved, from USCIS data. Start with employers that sponsor every year.
This page explains public rules and DHS estimates. It isn't legal advice, and nothing here promises a result. Your employer and its attorney decide your wage level and file your registration. Read the rule itself: Federal Register, Weighted Selection Process for H-1B cap registrations (FR Doc. 2025-23853, Dec 29, 2025).