On January 31, 2024, U.S. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently released a set of significant amendments to the H-1B visa system, designed to make the application process fairer and fraud-free. Those include changes to the H-1B registration system, online filing of key forms, fees, and more. In this article, we explain what the main changes in the H-1B process by USCIS are.
H-1B Verification Gets a Revamp
In response to questions about fraud and to make the process more fair, USCIS has overhauled the H-1B registration process. The new guidelines will be that H-1B lottery selection is made by the beneficiaries (foreign workers who want the visa) and not by the employer’s list. This change will eliminate fraud, and transparency, and offer every beneficiary an equal opportunity to be selected no matter how many registrations an employer completes for them.
USCIS will start to ask all H-1B lottery beneficiaries to provide valid passport/travel document information when they apply for the H-1B lottery starting in 2025. This is likely to make the registration process even more secure against fraud.
Important Dates for FY 2025 H-1B Enrollment.
It’s also the official date of registration for the FY 2025 H-1B cap season provided by USCIS. The Registration Period: March 6, 2024, 12:00 pm EST / March 22, 2024, 12:00 pm EST. This is an important date to mark and get registered if you’re planning to apply for an H-1B visa in FY 2025.
Along with these changes in registration, USCIS has raised its fees for some H-1B applications. With effect April 1, 2024, the filing fee for the I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) increases from $460 to $780. This fee is on the majority of H-1B applications, so employers and applicants should be aware of the shift.
Don’t forget, H-1B fees won’t increase until next year. In 2025, registration is set to cost $10 up to $215. In addition, The premium processing fee (which expedites the processing of H-1B applications) will increase from $2,500 to $2,805 as of February 26, 2024.
H-1B Forms, Top Forms Online Filing For H-1B Forms
Moreover, H-1B forms can now be filed online by USCIS on portals as well. Employers will now have organizational accounts as of February 28, 2024, and for non-cap H-1B applications Form I-129 (Nonimmigrant Worker Petition) and Form I-907 (Premium Processing Request) can be filed online. And on April 1, 2024, USCIS will take online submissions of H-1B cap petitions and make it even simpler.
Key Takeaways
These H-1B program changes are another example of USCIS continuing to ensure the application process is more equitable and less fraudulent. All these revisions, from the new registration system to increased filing fees to the introduction of online filing, are meant to make the H-1B process more effective and safer. So if you are going to be applying for an H-1B visa in the coming seasons, stay informed of this change and plan accordingly.
