The Updated H1-B Registration Process: What You Should Know
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially announced a final regulation in the Federal Register on Friday, February 2, 2024, aimed at enhancing the integrity and equity of the H1-B registration system. The updated H1-B registration process includes the following provisions:
No Current Fee Increase
The registration filing fee remains $10 for the FY2025 H-1B registration period. However, the DHS plans to increase most filing fees in April 2024, including the H-1B registration fee, which will then be $215 per registration.
Single Entry in Lottery
The H-1B registration system will mostly maintain its current operation. Each U.S. employer seeking to sponsor an H-1B candidate must still submit a separate electronic registration for each candidate. However, the new rule limits each foreign national to a single entry in the lottery, regardless of the number of registrations submitted for them.
Notification to All Registrants
If a beneficiary is selected, all registrants who submitted a registration for that beneficiary will be notified. Each registrant will then have the opportunity to file an H-1B petition on behalf of the selected beneficiary during the filing period.
Flexible Start Date
The final rule offers flexibility regarding the requested start date of the petition. Instead of mandating an October 1st start date for selections made in the first round of the lottery, petitioners can generally request any start date of the applicable fiscal year, up to six months beyond the H-1B petition filing date.
Requirement for Valid Passport or Travel Document
The new lottery system is focused on the beneficiary and linked to their passport or travel document. To ensure fairness, each foreign national must possess a valid passport or travel document. The final rule also prohibits registering the same beneficiary under multiple passports or travel documents.
At Heckler Law Group, we are ready to help you navigate U.S. DHS updates in the most efficient way possible. Contact us to receive your free immigration case evaluation.
This post is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should not act or rely on any information in this post without seeking the advice of a licensed immigration attorney.