The H-1B visa landscape for Head of Operations roles has fundamentally shifted in 2026—new wage-weighted lottery rules, a $100,000 supplemental fee for certain petitions, and stricter specialty occupation standards now define the path forward. For employers seeking operational leadership and professionals pursuing U.S. career advancement, understanding these changes is critical. USCIS selected 118,660 unique beneficiaries from 336,153 registrants in FY2026—approximately a 35.3% selection rate—while FY2027 introduces rules that could dramatically favor higher-paying positions. Alma's H-1B visa services help employers and professionals build winning petitions with expert guidance, transparent pricing, and a 99%+ approval rate.
The H-1B visa allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign professionals in specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree. For Head of Operations positions—roles overseeing supply chain management, process optimization, team infrastructure, and strategic planning—this visa category provides a primary pathway to U.S. employment.
The annual H-1B cap remains at 65,000 visas with an additional 20,000 reserved for beneficiaries holding U.S. master's degrees or higher. However, demand consistently outstrips supply:
For operations leaders, this means competition remains fierce despite reforms reducing duplicate entries. The January 2025 H-1B Modernization Rule introduced key changes affecting how USCIS evaluates petitions—including clarified "directly related" degree requirements and expanded deference to prior approvals.
Operations roles face unique scrutiny because their duties can span general business functions. USCIS requires proof that the position meets the specialty occupation definition: theoretical and practical application of highly specialized knowledge, plus a bachelor's degree minimum in a directly related field.
For Head of Operations positions, qualifying degrees typically include:
Under the 2025 Modernization Rule, "directly related" means a logical connection between the degree field and job duties—USCIS now evaluates actual coursework rather than degree titles alone. This change opens pathways for MBA holders with relevant concentrations.
Employers must pay the higher of actual wage or prevailing wage, determined by DOL's Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Wage levels correspond to experience percentiles:
For operations managers, prevailing wages vary significantly by metropolitan area—the same Level II role commands different minimums in Dallas-Fort Worth versus San Jose.
DHS finalized wage-weighted selection effective February 27, 2026, fundamentally changing FY2027 lottery odds (beginning October 1, 2026):
Under the new system, Level IV wage positions receive 4 lottery entries with a projected 61.16% selection probability, Level III positions receive 3 entries with 45.87% probability, Level II positions receive 2 entries with 29.59% probability, and Level I positions receive 1 entry with 15.29% probability.
This represents a dramatic shift—Level IV registrations will have 4x better odds than Level I positions. For employers hiring Head of Operations roles, compensation planning directly determines lottery success.
Alma's business immigration platform provides real-time dashboards, automated deadline alerts, and compliance tracking to ensure employers never miss critical windows.
The Presidential Proclamation effective September 21, 2025, imposes a $100,000 one-time payment—but with significant exemptions:
Fee applies to:
Fee does NOT apply to:
The fee creates a two-tier system favoring internal status changes over consular processing.
A winning petition requires meticulous evidence linking the role to specialty occupation requirements:
Generic descriptions trigger RFEs. Instead of "manages operations," specify:
Alma's visa application legal packages include attorney preparation of compelling duty descriptions, organizational documentation, and RFE-prevention strategies—all at transparent flat-rate pricing.
Common RFE triggers for operations roles include:
Operations roles involving client-site work, consulting, or multi-location oversight face heightened review. USCIS requires:
Multi-location operations roles present wage determination challenges. The lowest applicable wage level across all worksites determines FY2027 lottery weighting—potentially lowering selection odds. Strategic solutions include:
The complexity of 2026's H-1B landscape makes professional guidance essential. As immigration policy experts have noted, the uncertainty and unpredictability introduced into the program means not relying on past experiences, but continuing to update practices to meet the new moment.
Alma combines attorney-led legal services with a technology platform purpose-built for immigration—H-1B lottery registration costs $215 per beneficiary, cap-subject petitions cost approximately $3,380 in government fees ($780 base filing fee plus statutory fees), and extensions/amendments cost approximately $1,380 for large employers (base filing fee plus Asylum Program Fee, with ACWIA and Fraud Prevention fees not required for the same beneficiary). With a 99%+ approval rate and guaranteed 2-week document turnaround, Alma's individual immigration services provide the expertise operations professionals need.
Employers sponsoring H-1B workers must maintain:
Managing H-1B sponsorship—especially across multiple employees—demands systematic processes. Alma's business immigration platform provides:
For startups with 1-25 foreign nationals, Alma offers streamlined legal help with flat-rate pricing and fast onboarding—including specialized recommendations for founders and executives.
For Head of Operations professionals seeking permanent residency, several employment-based green card options exist:
Ideal for operations executives transferring from foreign affiliates:
Government filing costs: $715 base I-140 filing fee plus $600 Asylum Program Fee (total $1,315 for most employers; reduced fees for small employers and nonprofits).
For operations leaders whose work benefits the U.S. nationally:
Government filing costs: $715 base I-140 filing fee plus $600 Asylum Program Fee for most applicants (total $1,315).
The traditional employer-sponsored pathway:
PERM labor certification: No government filing fee, though total employer costs—including attorney fees and mandatory recruitment advertising—typically range from $3,000 to $10,000+.
Alma's green card services provide comprehensive support for EB-1C, EB-2 NIW, and PERM-based petitions—with reduced pricing for clients with approved O-1 visas.
When H-1B lottery uncertainty or the $100,000 fee makes sponsorship impractical, two cap-exempt alternatives emerge for operations executives:
For multinational operations leaders:
For operations professionals with demonstrated excellence:
Alma's O-1A visa services help executives and managers demonstrate extraordinary ability through comprehensive petition preparation.
Choosing the correct Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code directly impacts both prevailing wage determination and FY2027 lottery weighting. Operations roles may fall under General and Operations Managers (11-1021), Industrial Production Managers (11-3051), or Management Analysts (13-1111)—each with different wage levels by metropolitan area. Incorrect classification triggers RFEs and could result in lower lottery odds if the selected code produces a lower wage level than the position warrants. Work with your immigration attorney to match the SOC code to actual job duties rather than job title.
Yes, employers can register multiple beneficiaries for the same lottery cycle. However, beneficiary-centric reforms mean each person can only be selected once regardless of how many employers register them. Companies hiring multiple operations leaders should register each during the March window and prepare separate petitions for each selected beneficiary. For organizations managing multiple cases, Alma's Growth and Enterprise plans provide scalable case management, dedicated account managers, and volume-appropriate pricing.
An RFE isn't a denial—it's USCIS requesting additional documentation to support your case. For operations roles, common RFE topics include specialty occupation proof, degree equivalency, and employer-employee relationship verification. Post-RFE approval rates remain strong when responses thoroughly address USCIS concerns with supporting evidence, expert opinion letters, and detailed explanations. Alma's legal packages include RFE responses, and Growth/Enterprise plans offer one free refile in case of initial denial.
All registrations submitted during the March window receive equal consideration—there's no advantage to filing on day one versus day fourteen. However, late or incomplete registrations are rejected entirely. The critical factor is ensuring valid passport documentation, accurate beneficiary information, and completed employer attestations before the window closes. Setting calendar reminders and preparing documentation in advance prevents last-minute scrambles.
Remote operations roles with work locations across multiple metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) require wage compliance at each worksite. For lottery purposes, the lowest applicable wage level across all locations determines weighting—potentially reducing selection probability. Employers can mitigate this by structuring initial placements in a single high-wage metro, documenting a primary worksite for wage determination, and filing amended petitions if work locations change post-approval.
