For Polish engineers, programmers, doctors, and scientists planning to work in the United States, the H-1B visa is the most common legal path to employment with an American employer. Therefore, the announcement from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on July 17, 2026, is also significant in Poland – and it’s worth understanding exactly what happened.
What USCIS Announced
USCIS announced that it received a sufficient number of electronic registrations for unique beneficiaries to meet the H-1B cap for fiscal year 2027 (which begins October 1, 2026). This cap is set by Congress and for years has been 65,000 visas in the regular cap and an additional 20,000 visas in the master’s cap for graduates of U.S. universities with a master’s degree or higher.
Employers whose beneficiaries were selected in the lottery received notification that they can submit full H-1B petitions (for 2027, these can be submitted starting April 1, 2026). Registrations that were not selected remain in the system – if the spots are not filled, USCIS may conduct additional selection rounds, but this is not guaranteed.
New Rule: It’s About the Employee, Not the Number of Registrations
For several years, a “beneficiary-centric” selection has been in effect – meaning it focuses on the individual employee, not on the number of registrations submitted. In practice, this means the system selects a specific beneficiary, not a single registration. If several employers registered the same candidate and that candidate is selected, then all registrations for that person are considered selected – and the employee can decide which employer to work for.
This rule is important for Polish candidates who are in discussions with several companies at once. Previously, registering the same person by multiple employers artificially increased the chances in the lottery and opened the door to abuse. Today, one candidate means one chance – regardless of how many employers submitted them – but the selected employee has a real choice of offers.
What This Means for Poles Planning to Work in the USA
The most important practical conclusion: for fiscal year 2027, the H-1B cap is already closed. If a Polish specialist was not selected in this year’s lottery, they must wait for the next registration cycle in this pathway – usually opening in the spring of the following year. It is worth monitoring the USCIS newsroom, as this is where registration opening dates and any additional lotteries appear.
For those who passed the lottery, the key now is to ensure the employer submits the full petition on time and that the documentation is complete – this is on the American company and its lawyer. It’s also worth remembering that H-1B is not the only path: depending on the profession and qualifications, other categories may apply, such as visas for individuals with extraordinary abilities or intra-company transfers. Each of these is best discussed with a licensed immigration attorney, as details depend on the individual situation.
Why the Cap is Exhausted So Quickly
Demand for H-1B visas has for years far exceeded the number of available spots, which is why USCIS conducts a lottery. Exhausting the cap already in July, several months before the start of the fiscal year, is a typical situation – it confirms that the American job market for highly skilled specialists remains very competitive. For Polish candidates, this means one thing: preparation for the next cycle – discussions with employers, education documentation, contingency plan – must begin well in advance, not just before registrations open.
If you are planning to work in the United States on an H-1B visa, follow official USCIS announcements and consult your situation with an immigration attorney – these are the only sources that provide certainty regarding deadlines and requirements in your specific case.
Sources:
- USCIS — “USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2027 H-1B Cap” (announcement from July 17, 2026): https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-reaches-fiscal-year-2027-h-1b-cap
- USCIS — “FY 2027 H-1B Initial Registration Selection Process Completed” (beneficiary-centric selection): https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/fy-2027-h-1b-initial-registration-selection-process-completed
- USCIS — H-1B Electronic Registration Process (process and cap description): https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations/h-1b-electronic-registration-process
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Visa terms and requirements depend on individual circumstances – consult a licensed immigration attorney.
Author: Bartosz Karczmarski · July 21, 2026
