H-1B visa registration for FY 2025 open till March 22 with revamped online process. All FAQs answered
The H-1B programme allows US employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in highly specialised technical occupations, including architecture, engineering, social sciences, medicine, education, mathematics, accounting, arts, and more. The annual cap for new H-1B visas is 65,000 for each fiscal year
The H-1B cap season for fiscal year 2025 is in full swing in the United States, with registrations now open and scheduled to close on March 22. However, the application procedure has undergone significant changes, making it crucial for employers and applicants to understand the new process thoroughly.
The H-1B programme allows US employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in highly specialised technical occupations, including architecture, engineering, social sciences, medicine, education, mathematics, law, accounting, business specialities, arts, and others. The annual cap for new H-1B visas is 65,000 for each fiscal year.
The Joe Biden administration has introduced a modernised H-1B lottery registration system, shifting to a more beneficiary-centric approach instead of random selection. This new process limits each employee to being chosen only once in each lottery. Registrants are now required to provide valid passport and travel document information, as per PTI.
What is the registration process for H-1B?
To initiate the H-1B petitioning process, employers must create an online US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) account at my.uscis.gov. Existing registrant accounts from previous seasons will be migrated to new organisation accounts, a process that may take several hours or even more than a day for accounts with large volumes of cases.
Accredited representatives with a Legal Representative account will also undergo a similar migration process when they log into their USCIS accounts.
It is crucial to choose the correct account type—Organisation or Legal Representative—during the account creation process, as changing the account type later will not be possible. In such cases, a new USCIS online account will need to be created using a different email address.
To assist with the online filing process, USCIS is offering Tech Talk sessions and webinars throughout March and early April. These sessions will cover topics such as online filing of Form I-129 and Form I-907, as well as guidance on using organisation accounts.
While paper Form I-129 H-1B petitions and associated Form I-907 are still accepted, they cannot be linked to an online account at the moment. Additionally, filing locations for paper form petitions have changed, and new addresses will be announced separately in March.
Q: Will the registrant be able to change the wrong account type when creating a USCIS online account?
Petitioners must choose the correct account type - Organization or Legal Representative - while creating an online account. If the wrong account type is selected, a new USCIS online account must be created using a different email address, and the process must be redone, according to the website.
Q: Are paper forms still valid? Can they be linked to the USCIS online account?
The provision to file a paper Form I-129 H-1B petition and any associated Form I-907 still stands. However, these paper-filed forms cannot be linked to an online account at the moment. Additionally, filing locations for paper form petitions have changed, and new addresses will be announced separately in March.
With the modernised online registration process and beneficiary-centric approach, the H-1B cap season for the fiscal year 2025 aims to streamline the application procedure while ensuring fairness and efficiency in the highly competitive H-1B visa programme.
(With Inputs from Agencies)
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First Published:19 Mar 2024, 11:45 AM IST
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