H-1B Visa Application Registration for FY 2025 Opens on March 6, 2024

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have announced that the initial registration for H-1B visa applications for fiscal year 2025 will commence on March 6 and run until March 22. This non-immigrant visa program allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations and is subject to an annual cap.

The USCIS has introduced a final rule aimed at enhancing the integrity of the registration process and reducing the potential for fraud. The rule includes measures to prevent manipulation of the registration system and to ensure an equitable selection process for beneficiaries.

During the registration period, prospective petitioners and their representatives must use a USCIS online account to electronically register each beneficiary for the selection process and pay the applicable registration fee for each individual.

The final rule establishes a beneficiary-centric selection process, shifting from registration-based selection to unique beneficiary-based selection. This change aims to minimize fraud and provide an equal chance of selection for all beneficiaries, regardless of the number of registrations submitted on their behalf by employers.

Starting with the FY 2025 registration period, registrants will be required to provide valid passport or travel document information for each beneficiary. This passport or travel document should be the one the beneficiary intends to use for entry into the US if granted an H-1B visa.

The USCIS anticipates that these improvements will result in a fairer and more transparent H-1B visa selection process, with a focus on integrity and security.