USA Skilled Worker Visa New Salary Rules 2026
Do you intend to apply to U.S skilled worker visa this year? The regulations have radically changed. By the date of February 27, 2026, the government of the U.S. officially substituted the random lottery in H-1B with a wage-based, high stakes system of selection.
Your salary has become a lottery ticket in this new age, not a pay check anymore. In the case of the FY 2027 cap season, the amount of money you make compared to the rest in your profession is the direct correlation of whether you get to remain in the United States. This guide dissects the USA Skilled Worker Visa Salary Rules 2026 to make you realize your chances of selection and the astronomical new immigration filing charges.
The Determinant of Your 2026 Salary on Your Lottery Chances.
The most significant amendment to the USA Skilled Worker Visa Salary Rules 2026 is the so-called weighted selection. Rather than giving all applicants an equal opportunity (approximately 30% it has in the past) the USCIS is now giving out such entries in accordance with the four-tier prevailing wage levels of the Department of Labor (DOL).
Taking into account the level of wages, it is clear that the probability of selection depends on the wage level.
Your chance of being chosen in the H-1B Weighted Selection System is now dependent on your level of salary:
- IV Wage Level (Fully Competent): 4 positions in the pool (approximately 61 percent chance of selection).
- Wage Level III (Experienced): 3 in the pool (or about 45% probability of being selected).
- Wage Level II (Qualified): 2 slots in the pool (approximately 30 percent selection ratio).
- Wage Level I (Entry-Level): 1 applicant in the group (approximately 15 percent chances of selection).
Key Dates and New $215 Fee
The H-1B season registration window in the FY 2027 is established. The timeline to be followed between the employer and the applicant should be prepared as follows:
- March 4, 2026: Registration opens noontime Eastern.
- March 19, 2026: Deadline of registration.
- March 31, 2026: The selection notifications are issued through USCIS online accounts.
The reason Experts Will Win in 2026.
The H-1B Level IV Salary Priority is made in such a way that it gives the preference to the best and the bright. The system functions to crowd out registration on the Level IV applicants, as it grants them 4x the entries.
- This change according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model would:
- Cut Level I selections by 27 to only 14%.
- Level IV increments of 15.5% to 26.
- Raise the average salaries of the workers who are selected to a level that is beyond 121,800.
Preventing “Wage Inflation”
The chances of the wagering of salary in selection are high since the chances of selection depend on the salary. USCIS has introduced the Process Integrity Framework to fight this.
- LCA Consistency Audit: Your last Labor Condition Application (LCA) should be the same or a higher level of wage than you used during the lottery.
- Denial in Wage Level Inflation: When an employer registers a candidate at Level IV to win the lottery but after that enters a petition at Level II, the USCIS has the express right to revoke or deny the visa due to fraud.
- Lowest Wage Rule: In case a registration of the same person is made by several employers, the beneficiary is registered following the lowest level of wage that is being offered to him or her out of the various registrations to avoid gaming the system.
FAQ
What will be the minimum wage of an H-1B visa in 2026?
National minimum does not exist. The minimum amount that you should earn in your particular occupation (SOC code) in your particular city is the OEWS Level 1 wage. These are at the DOL FLAG site.
What are the number of lottery tickets I get with an H-1B Level 3 salary?
You are awarded 3 places into the selection pool.
Is the $100,000 Super Fee applicable to all?
No. It is limited to new applications of workers not yet in the U.S. who must be consul processed. Individuals who apply to a Change of Status (COS) in the U.S. (such as F-1 students) are usually not exempted.
Conclusion
The USA Skilled Worker Visa Salary Rules 2026 is the largest structural change of the 35-year history of the H-1B program. We are now officially out of the age of lottery luck and on the age of merit based on salary. In the FY 2027 cap season, the calculation is simple: individuals with Wage Level IV qualification will have almost an automatic ticket to the U.S., with Level I-qualified having to face a 48 percent reduction in the chances of selection.
Disclaimer:
The article is not meant to be informational or an educational one. The recommendation is that the readers should ensure that they receive information that is confirmed as credible by credible sources including the official websites of the USCIS and the Department of Labor.