The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has completed its initial electronic registration selection process for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap).
The USCIS confirmed that they received enough electronic registrations for unique beneficiaries during the initial registration period to meet the FY 2025 H-1B numerical allocations.
“We have randomly selected enough properly submitted registrations for unique beneficiaries projected as needed to reach the H-1B cap and have notified all prospective petitioners with selected beneficiaries that they are eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition for such beneficiaries,” said the US immigration agency in a press release.
Candidates can check the status of their online accounts by clicking on the registration link.
The status can be one of several —
Submitted — indicates eligibility for selection.
Selected — means chosen to file an H-1B cap petition.
Not Selected — denotes ineligibility for filing based on the registration.
Denied – duplicate registration — indicates multiple registrations for the same beneficiary by the same registrant.
Invalidated – failed payment — means the registration was submitted, but the payment method was declined or invalid.
Deleted — signifies that the registration has been removed and is no longer eligible.
Processing submission — indicates that USCIS is processing the submission, which may take up to 72 hours.
NEW FEES AND FORM EDITION
Starting April 1, 2024, H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY 2025, including those for advanced degree exemption, can be submitted to the USCIS. Only those with registrations for selected beneficiaries can file these petitions.
To file correctly, registrants may submit a petition online at my.uscis.gov or by mail within the 90 days stated in the selection notice.
A new fee structure for immigration applications and petitions published by USCIS on Jan. 31, 2024, is effective from April 1, 2024.
“On Jan. 31, 2024, USCIS published a final rule that adjusts the fees required for most immigration applications and petitions. The new fees are effective April 1, 2024. Petitions postmarked on or after April 1, 2024, must include the new fees, or we will not accept them,” said the US agency in a press release.
Petitions postmarked on, or after this date must include the updated fees.
The USCIS has increased fees for beneficiaries filing H-1B petitions — H-1B filing fees will rise by 70%, L-1 petition fees will increase by 201%, O-1 petition fees will see a 129% hike.
Additionally, a new edition of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, will be introduced on April 1, 2024.
“There will be a new 04/01/24 edition of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. There will be no grace period for filing the new version of Form I-129 because it must include the new fee calculation,” stated the US agency.
H-1B FORM I-129 FILING LOCATION CHANGE TO LOCKBOX
Starting April 1, all paper-based H-1B and H-1B1 (HSC) Form I-129 petitions must be filed at USCIS lockbox locations and not directly with the USCIS service centres.
Petitions received at a USCIS service centre on or after April 1 will be rejected.
Specific mailing addresses for H-1B cap cases can be found on the Form I-129 Direct Filing Addresses page.
On February 28, USCIS introduced new online organisational accounts, myUSCIS, for collaboration on and preparation of H-1B registrations, petitions, and associated Form I-907.
Online filing of Form I-129 for non-cap H-1B petitions was launched on March 25, followed by the online filing for H-1B cap petitions and associated Forms I-907 starting April 1.
While paper filing remains an option, during the initial launch of organisational accounts, users cannot link paper-filed Forms I-129 and I-907 to their online accounts.