India, Sept. 28 -- The H-1B FY2027 cap year begins on October 1, bringing a major change to the way the US selects workers for the highly sought-after employment visa. For the first time, USCIS is using a weighted selection system that gives higher-paid positions greater weight in the H-1B lottery.

According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) H-1B cap season guidance, the FY2027 selection process will favor higher-skilled and higher-paid workers while maintaining an opportunity for beneficiaries across all four wage levels.

Under the new system, an H-1B registration's weight is determined by the highest US Department of Labor Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) wage level that the offered salary meets ...