Client Payment Portal

H-1B Registration Announced

Feb 6, 2021 | Nonimmigrant Visas

USCIS announced today that the initial registration period for H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern time on March 9 and run through noon Eastern time on March 25.

During this period, employers will be able to complete petitioner and beneficiary information and submit the registrations. A confirmation number will be assigned to each registration submitted.

If USCIS receives more than 85,000 registrations by March 25, the agency will then randomly select 85,000 registrations and send selection notifications. USCIS intends to notify account holders by March 31. Of course, an H-1B cap-subject petition may be filed only by a petitioner whose registration for that beneficiary was selected in the H-1B registration process.

For additional information, please see HERE.

USCIS previously announced that DHS is delaying the effective date of the H-1B Selection Process final rule, which would have fundamentally changed the lottery process. USCIS will apply the regulations currently in place (random selection) to the initial registration period and any subsequent registration period for the FY 2022 registration process.

Please do not hesitate to contact your WR attorney if you or your company would like to complete an H-1B registration.

Related Posts:

February 2022 Visa Bulletin Update

USCIS to Use Date for Filing for Adjustment Cases The Department of State has issued its February 2022 Visa Bulletin, which includes some modest advancement in final action dates in the EB-2 preference category, particularly for India. Final action dates for China EB-2 will advance over a month to March 1, 2019, while final action dates for India EB-2 will advance nearly six months to January 1, 2013. There is, however, no movement in final action dates in the EB-3 professionals and skilled workers preference category for either India or China. All other countries under EB-2 and EB-3 will remain current. EB-1 remains current for all countries including India and China. EB-5 remains current for all countries, but Regional Center cases are awaiting reauthorization. If reauthorized in February, the EB-5 Regional Center cut-off date will be November 22, 2015. Although there will be some advancement in final action dates, USCIS has indicated that for filing adjustment of status applications, the dates for filing chart must be used, and there is less movement here. Only the India EB-2 dates for filing will advance in February, by almost 2 months to July 8, 2013.  Dates for filing for India EB-3, and for China EB-2 and EB-3, will remain the same.   Details: Visa Bulletin for February 2022, Dept. of State, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2022/visa-bulletin-for-february-2022.html Adjustment of Status […]

Read More

DHS Issues Final Rule to Modify H-1B Cap Lottery with Selection Process Based on Wage Level; New Administration Likely to Reverse Course

On January 8, 2021, new rules will be published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) impacting the H-1B visa lottery to be held in March 2021.  The “midnight” regulation is scheduled to take effect on March 9, 2021. While this could impact future cap seasons, WR believes that the rule is unlikely to take effect for the upcoming FY 2022 H-1B cap season. President-Elect Biden’s transition team has unofficially confirmed its intention to place all last-minute regulations on hold for 60 days. Also,  WR expects numerous legal challenges. WR is advising employers to proceed as usual at this time and get ready for a regular cap season. The rule amends regulations governing the process by which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services selects H-1B registrations for filing of H-1B cap-subject petitions. Under this rule, USCIS would first select registrations (or petitions, if the registration process is suspended) generally based on the highest Occupational Employment Statistics prevailing wage level that the offered wage equals or exceeds for the relevant Standard Occupational Classification code and area(s) of intended employment.  If implemented, the rule would greatly favor higher paid occupations. We will keep you abreast of any changes that affect your cases and will strategize the best […]

Read More