Deadline Alert: H-1B Visa Registration for Indians: USCIS has introduced a fully online system for applying for H-1B visas this year. The application deadline is March 22.
As part of this period, petitioners and legal representatives must use their USCIS online accounts to register for the selection process. Participants must pay the associated registration fees for each beneficiary by March 18.
Here’s what these changes mean for Indian applicants:
Deadline Alert: H-1B Visa Registration for Indians: Online registration is on the rise
The online system facilitates a smoother application experience and allows for real-time tracking of applications. For Indian applicants, this is a transition to a new, more efficient submission method. Consequently, Indian IT professionals and businesses that contribute significantly to the demand for H-1B visas will experience a reduction in paperwork and associated costs.
👀🚨CORRECTION: Registration for the fiscal year 2025 H-1B cap is now open and closes on March 22, 2024. We apologize for the confusion. https://t.co/6weKZAFxqo
— USCIS (@USCIS) March 18, 2024
By noon ET on March 22, applicants must gather and submit all required documentation.
Through myUSCIS organisational accounts, individuals within an organization can prepare H-1B registrations together with their legal representatives.
Preparing for registration
In order to apply for a visa, applicants must provide valid passport information and travel document information.
Form I-129, a petition for a nonimmigrant worker, and Form I-907, a request for premium processing, can be accessed through USCIS online accounts.
Check out: Indians can visit countries like Maldives and Jamaica without a visa; check full list
FY 2025 registration
This is the first increase in visa fees since 2016, and the H-1B registration fee has also been raised from $10 to $215.
The FY 2025 H-1B cap introduces a lottery system where registrations are selected based on individual beneficiaries, not employers. This eliminates the possibility of fraud by preventing the submission of multiple registrations for the same individual in addition to ensuring equal opportunities for everyone.
