H-1B Visa Registration 2026–27 for Employers - New Fees Compliance Responsibilities, and USCIS Selection Changes

For the FY 2027 H-1B cap season (March 2026), employers should be prepared for a fast-moving registration window and higher cost exposure. The registration period is March 4–19, 2026, and the USCIS registration fee is $215. A major change expected for this cycle is a wage-weighted selection framework, which may give preference to higher-paid roles.

Other fee-related updates may also affect employer budgeting and strategy, including a potential $100,000 supplemental fee for certain cases (primarily those that are consular processed) and an increase in premium processing fees to $2,965, effective March 1, 2026.

Because U.S. immigration policy and agency processes continue to shift, employers, employees, and families need to stay current. Early 2026 updates and announcements impact immigrant visa processing, the H-1B specialty occupation program, and premium processing making planning and compliance alignment especially important this year.

• Learn why the H1-B Visas are a challenge for Employers wanting Foreign Workers
• Learn how the Executive Order from the White House determined the focus for Visas
• Learn how to decode the March 2026 H-1B registration timeline, fees, and employer obligations under the latest USCIS rules.
• Learn why the $100,000 fee was initiated
• Learn what impact the Lottery has on which applicants are selected
• Learn how to analyze the beneficiary-centric selection process and wage-based implications for workforce planning and compliance.
• Learn how to identify HR, legal, and compliance risks for multi-state and global employers sponsoring H-1B professionals.
• Learn how Employer’s need to adapt to the new fees and guidelines to meet their Foreign Workers selection
• Learn what happens with the families of workers sponsored by Employers
• Learn how to equip HR leaders and compliance professionals with actionable strategies to align H-1B sponsorship with federal, state, and international compliance standards.

• All Employers interested in the Visa process
• Business Owners who plan to sponsor foreign workers
• Company Leadership
• Compliance professionals
• HR Professionals.

Margie Faulk is a senior level human resources professional with over 15 years of HR management and compliance experience. A current Compliance Advisor for HR Compliance Solutions, LLC, Margie, has worked as an HR Compliance advisor for major corporations and small businesses in the small, large, private, public and Non-profit sectors.  Margie has provided small to large businesses with risk management strategies that protect companies and reduces potential workplace fines and penalties from violation of employment regulations. Margie is bilingual (Spanish) fluent and Bi-cultural.

Margie’s area of expertise includes Criminal Background Screening Policies and auditing, I-9 document correction and storage compliance, Immigration compliance, employee handbook development, policy development, sexual harassment investigations/certified training, SOX regulations, payroll compliance, compliance consulting, monitoring US-based federal, state and local regulations, employee relations issues, internal investigations, HR management, compliance consulting, internal/external audits, and performance management.
Margie is a speaker and accomplished trainer and has created and presented compliance seminars/webinars for over 16 US and International compliance institutes. Margie has testified as a compliance subject matter expert (SME) for several regulatory agencies and against regulatory agencies, thank goodness not on the same day. Margie offers compliance training to HR professionals, business owners, and leadership to ensure compliance with workplace and regulations. 
Margie’s unique training philosophy includes providing free customized tools for all attendees. These tools are customized and have been proven to be part an effective risk management strategy. Some of the customized tools include the I-9 Self Audit. Correction and Storage program, Ban the Box Decision Matrix Policy that Employers can provide in a dispute for allegations, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Compliance Guide, Drug-Free Workplace Volatile Termination E-Book and other compliance program tools when attendees register and attend Margie’s trainings.
Margie holds professional human resources certification (PHR) from the HR Certification Institution (HRCI) and SHRM-CP certification from the Society for Human Resources Management. Margie is a member of the Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics (SCCE).