In a statement, the agency said: "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master's cap, for fiscal year 2027."

With this, all 85,000 H-1B visas available under the annual quota set by the US Congress have been filled.

USCIS also highlighted that under the Presidential Proclamation titled Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, issued on September 19, 2025, the issuance of H-1B visas remains restricted unless the petition is accompanied or supplemented by a payment of $100,000.

The restrictions apply only to H-1B petitions filed with USCIS on or after September 21, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), the effective date of the proclamation.

The H-1B programme enables US employers to temporarily hire foreign nationals in specialty occupations or as fashion models of distinguished merit and ability.

According to USCIS, a specialty occupation is one that requires the theoretical and practical application of highly specialised knowledge, along with at least a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a specific field.

The agency said the purpose of the H-1B programme is to help employers fill positions requiring specialised skills when qualified workers are not readily available in the US labour market by authorising the temporary employment of eligible foreign professionals.

US law also establishes safeguards to ensure that the employment of H-1B workers does not adversely affect similarly employed US workers while protecting the rights of H-1B employees.

USCIS noted that employers must certify to the Department of Labor that they will pay H-1B workers wages that are at least equal to either the actual wage paid to similarly qualified employees within the company or the prevailing wage for the occupation in the area of intended employment, whichever is higher.