The wait is over! The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is gearing up to conduct a lottery to select beneficiaries for the highly sought-after H-1B visas for the fiscal year (FY) 2025. This includes the master’s cap for advanced degree holders.
Lottery to Determine H-1B Visa Recipients
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations. Due to the consistently high demand exceeding the annual quota of 85,000 visas, USCIS utilizes a lottery system to choose recipients.
Notifications Being Sent for Selected Applicants
USCIS announced on Thursday that they’ve conducted the lottery for FY 2025 H-1B cap petitions. Selected applicants will be notified via their myUSCIS accounts starting from March 28th and continuing over the next few days leading up to April 1st.
👀Fiscal Year 2025 H-1B cap petitioners: random selections have been made and notifications are being sent to myUSCIS accounts beginning yesterday and continuing over the next few days prior to April 1.
— USCIS (@USCIS) March 28, 2024Advertisement
Technical Glitch Caused Deadline Extension
The initial registration period for FY 2025 H-1B visas closed on March 25th, 2024, after a three-day extension due to a technical glitch on the USCIS website. This glitch caused the original deadline, set for March 22nd, to be pushed back.
Indian Tech Professionals Dominate H-1B Landscape
In recent years, Indian tech professionals have been the primary beneficiaries of H-1B cap-subject visas. They consistently secure over 70% of the total 85,000 visas available, including the 20,000 quota reserved for holders of advanced U.S. degrees.
Expected Decrease in Applications and Increased Fees
USCIS expects to receive around 350,000 applications for FY 2025. This marks a significant decrease compared to the whopping 759,000 submissions received last year. USCIS attributes this decline to their intensified efforts to combat fraud, with over 400,000 duplicate registrations identified in 2022.
Also Read: US Citizenship? Get Your SSN Faster! USCIS Unveils Streamlined Process
Important Changes for H-1B Petition Filings
Starting April 1st, 2024, significant changes will come into effect for H-1B petition filings:
Increased Fees
USCIS is implementing substantial fee hikes for petitions related to H-1B, L-1, and O-1 visas. Expect a 70% rise in H-1B filing fees, a 201% increase for L-1 petitions, and a 129% jump for O-1 petitions.
- H1B filing fees will rise by 70%.
- L-1 petition fees will increase by 201%.
- O-1 petition fees will see a 129% hike.
New Filing Location
USCIS is now requiring all paper-based H-1B and H-1B1 (HSC) petitions, regardless of cap status (cap, non-cap, or cap-exempt), to be submitted directly to designated USCIS lockbox facilities. Form I-129 will no longer be accepted at USCIS service centres.
There’s no grace period for petitions sent to the wrong location after April 1st, so ensure you submit them to the correct lockbox address to avoid rejection.
Must Read: USCIS Issues Important Updates for FY 2025 H-1B Visa Applicants
Streamlined Processes with MyUSCIS
USCIS introduced “MyUSCIS,” an online platform that facilitates collaboration between companies, legal representatives, and beneficiaries for H-1B registrations, petitions, and related Form I-907 submissions.
Remember: USCIS is implementing various changes for FY 2025 H-1B visas. Stay informed about the lottery results, potential fee increases, and the new filing procedures for petitions to ensure a smooth application process.
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