In USCIS’ efforts to prevent unscrupulous agencies and employers from gaming the H1B system, US Employers will now be required to register in advance of submitting an H1B petition. USCIS has finalized its rules implementing a system to monitor the number of H-1B cap petitions submitted and to conduct the H-1B lottery prior tothe submission of the H1B petition.
Registration is required only for prospective cap-subject petitions. Employers who arecap-exempt such as universities or qualified research institutions as well as employees who have already beencounted against the cap are NOT required to register.
Registration requires the following information:
- Employee’s Full name
- Date of birth
- Country of birth
- Citizenship
- Passport number
- Gender
- An Employer attestation that there is a bona fide job offer and it intends to file an H-1B petition
USCIS will charge a US Government filing fee of $10.00 during the registration process. Employers may only submit one (1) registration per employee. The USCIS will announce in the Federal Register when it plans to institute registration and then:
- Initial registration period will be announced at least 30 days in advance and there will be stakeholder outreach;
- Initial registration period will begin at least 14 days before the first day of petition filing (April 1) and will last at least 14 calendar days;
- If selected, employer has at least 90 days to file H-1B petition; and
- USCIS may re-open registration at any time (no notice required).
All registrations will receive a confirmation receipt. If the registration is NOT SELECTED, it is placed on a reserve list, in case new numbers become available. To inquire about the H1B process or to begin the process, contact our office for a consultation today.
Leave a Reply