U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [USCIS] announced that it is implementing the registration process in the next H-1B lottery. Employers seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions in April 2020, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, must first electronically register and pay the associated $10 H-1B registration fee.
USCIS believes the electronic registration process will dramatically streamline processing by reducing paperwork and data exchange, and will provide an overall cost savings to petitioning employers.
Under this new process, employers seeking H-1B workers subject to the cap, or their authorized representatives, will complete a registration process that requires only basic information about their company and each requested worker. USCIS will open an initial registration period from March 1 through March 20, 2020. The H-1B random selection process, if needed, will then be run on those electronic registrations. Only those with selected registrations will be eligible to file H-1B cap-subject petitions.
“By streamlining the H-1B cap selection process with a new electronic registration system, USCIS is creating cost savings and efficiencies for petitioners and the agency, as only those selected will now be required to submit a full petition,” said USCIS Deputy Director Mark Koumans.
USCIS is expected to post step-by-step instructions informing registrants how to complete the registration process along with key dates and timelines as the initial registration period nears. USCIS also said they may determine it is necessary to continue accepting registrations, or open an additional registration period, if it does not receive enough registrations and subsequent petitions projected to reach the numerical allocations.
Please contact Perelmuter Law with any questions regarding the H-1B or any other business immigration matter.
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