US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that H-1B Registration will be opening March 6th at noon and closing on March 22nd at noon. With these dates quickly approaching, employers should begin assessing their H-1B needs for registration. Employers should consider the following categories of individuals who may benefit from being in H-1B status:

Recent graduates employed in F-1 OPT status;
Candidates in another nonimmigrant status looking to move into H-1B status;
Candidates currently employed as H dependents who require their own independent H-1B status;
Candidates abroad subject to the cap that are looking to come to the US.

The registration and selection process has one notable change this year in the H-1B registration process. USCIS is now requiring the Beneficiary’s passport or travel document provided during registration be the same one the beneficiary intends to use to enter the United States if issued an H-1B visa. Therefore, each beneficiary must only be registered under one passport or travel document.

The H-1B remains a lottery, therefore we recommend that employers begin assessing their H-1B needs now by identifying current and potential foreign national employees for whom H-1B status might be beneficial before the registration period begins. By preparing early, employers can collect the necessary documents and information needed to ensure they are ready for the multistep registration process and ensure their candidates get registered as soon as H-1B registration begins! Additionally, with the new registration requirements surrounding the Beneficiary’s passport, employers can ensure that any beneficiaries requiring an extension of their passport do so immediately.

Please note USCIS has proposed an increase in H-1B filing fees. We ask employers to notify us of any H-1B cap registrants as soon as possible to ensure timely registration. Our immigration team is prepared to help employers navigate this year’s H-1B cap season! Our team is available for free consults. Please contact our Immigration Law Practice Group’s Legal Assistant, Elizabeth Parody at 313-965-6741 to schedule a consult today.

Any information included here or through our web site is presented solely for general informational purposes and is not in any way intended as legal advice, is not a substitute for getting actual legal advice from an attorney, and should not be acted upon as legal advice without first seeking qualified professional counsel specific to your needs and situation. Additionally, by providing this general information and the information on our web site, no attorney client relationship is created.

FY 2025 H-1B Cap Season Is Upon Us: Notable Changes

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