United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced several updates regarding the H-1B visa program, affecting the registration process and filing procedures for employers seeking to hire foreign workers.
Here’s a summary of the changes:
1. H-1B Initial Registration Period Closed: The initial registration period for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 H-1B cap season concluded at noon Eastern on March 25, 2024. During this period, prospective petitioners submitted registrations for H-1B visas, which are subject to numerical allocations set for the fiscal year. USCIS will soon conduct a random selection process to determine which beneficiaries can file an H-1B cap-subject petition.
2. Filing Location Change to Lockbox: Effective April 1, 2024, USCIS is changing the filing location for H-1B and H-1B1 (HSC) Form I-129 petitions. Instead of filing at USCIS service centers, all paper-based petitions must be submitted to USCIS lockbox locations. This includes cap, non-cap, and cap-exempt filings. Petitions received at USCIS service centers on or after April 1, 2024, will be rejected without a grace period provided.
3. New Fees and Form Edition: USCIS published a final rule adjusting fees for most immigration applications and petitions, effective April 1, 2024. Petitions postmarked on or after this date must include the new fees, and there will be a new edition of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (04/01/24 edition), which must be used with the updated fee calculation.
4. Online Filing and Organizational Accounts: USCIS introduced new online organizational accounts, allowing multiple individuals within an organization and their legal representatives to collaborate on and prepare H-1B registrations and petitions. Online filing for non-cap H-1B petitions began on March 25, with cap petitions accepted online starting April 1. While petitioners can still file paper forms, they won’t be able to link them to their online accounts during the initial launch of organizational accounts.
5. No More Pre-paid Mailers: As of March 25, prepaid mailers are no longer used for any communication or final notices related to H-1B or H-1B1 (HSC) petitions. With H-1B intake now occurring at the lockbox or online, USCIS will automate the process of printing and mailing petition approval notices via first-class mail. MyUSCIS account holders will receive email or text notifications for case status changes, followed by paper notices.
These H-1B visa application process updates emphasize the transition to online filing, revised fee structures, and streamlined communication methods. Those involved in H-1B petitions should comply with the new filing procedures and fee requirements to avoid delays or rejections.
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