The deadline for registering for H-1B visas for fiscal year 2025 is approaching, with the initial sign-up period set to close at 12 noon Eastern Time on March 22. This registration window, which opened on March 6, allows prospective petitioners and their representatives to electronically register each beneficiary for the selection process using the online account 'myUSCIS' provided by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Employers now have the option to utilize the new organizational account 'myUSCIS' to register multiple entities under the same account. With Indians securing 77% of the 320,000 approved H-1B visas in 2022, this visa category remains popular among Indian professionals seeking employment opportunities in the US. However, this year, the USCIS expects approximately 350,000 applicants, a decrease attributed to new measures aimed at preventing fraud, especially considering the significant number of duplicate registrations observed last year.
To streamline the registration and petition process, USCIS has introduced enhanced organizational account features in online accounts, allowing users to collaborate more effectively. Additionally, USCIS has implemented fee increases for various visa petitions, including a 70% increase for H-1B petitions, a 201% increase for L-1 petitions, and a 129% increase for O-1 petitions. Form I-129 for H-1B petitions and Form I-907 for premium processing service are now available in USCIS online accounts, with online filing for H-1B cap petitions set to commence on April 1. The USCIS will announce when online filing for non-cap H-1B petitions becomes available.
