The process for applying for H-1B visas, which permit skilled foreign workers to enter the United States, is undergoing significant changes for the fiscal year 2025.
The registration period for this year opened on March 6 and will conclude on March 22. It's essential to note that the US government's fiscal year spans from October 1 of one calendar year to September 30 of the following year.
In 2022, Indians accounted for 77% of the H-1B visas, with 320,000 applications approved. However, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) anticipates a decrease in applications this year, expecting around 350,000 people to apply. This figure is less than half of the number of applicants from the previous year.
This decline is attributed to USCIS's modified approach to the registration process, aimed at thwarting fraudulent activities. Last year, out of nearly 759,000 registrations, over 400,000 were found to be duplicates.
To address this issue, USCIS has shifted its selection criteria to focus on individuals rather than the number of times an employer registers them. Consequently, even if a person is registered by multiple employers, they will only be entered into the lottery once. If selected, all their employers who registered for them can apply for an H-1B visa, providing individuals with multiple job offers the flexibility to choose the most suitable option.
While this change benefits applicants, it poses challenges for employers. There's a risk that a selected individual may opt to work for another employer instead. This uncertainty is compounded by the impending fee increases for visa petitions, set to take effect from April 1.
Under a final rule issued on January 30, employers hiring high-skilled foreign nationals will face substantial fee hikes for various visa petitions this year. For instance, the USCIS filing fee for beneficiaries on H-1B petitions will surge by 70%, while those on L-1 petitions will witness a 201% increase, and O-1 petition applicants will encounter a 129% rise.
The fee increases will affect several visa categories in the United States. For example, the fee for H-1B visas will escalate from $460 to $780, for L-1 visas from $460 to $1,385, and for O-1 visas from $460 to $1,055.
USCIS aims to ensure that registered individuals genuinely intend to work for the registering employer and possess a valid passport or travel document. Employers can now leverage the new organizational account 'myUSCIS' to register multiple entities under a single account, streamlining the registration process.
