- The H-1B Visa program can change at any point in time, so it is imperative that you not only check the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website regularly, but also consult an immigration professional to support your application process. Here are some basic points about the process to keep in mind!
- Employer Registration: Before filing an H-1B petition, employers must register electronically with USCIS. If you need to find an employer who will sponsor your work visa, download the FrogHire.ai extension to search for jobs that are posted by employers who welcome nondomestic workers, or have a history of sponsoring work visas!
- Registration Period: USCIS announces the registration period well in advance. Employers or their authorized representatives create an account on the USCIS website and submit basic information about the company and the prospective H-1B employees they intend to sponsor. This typically occurs several weeks before the start of the fiscal year for which the H-1B visas are being sought. This year, the registration period is coming up: March 1, 2024, ending on March 20, 2024, at noon Eastern Time).
- Registration Submission: During the registration period, employers submit the required information for each prospective H-1B employee they wish to sponsor. This includes the beneficiary’s name, date of birth, country of birth, country of citizenship, passport number, and other relevant details.
- Lottery Selection: If the number of registrations exceeds the annual H-1B visa cap (which is set at 85,000 visas per fiscal year, with 20,000 reserved for individuals with advanced degrees from U.S. institutions), USCIS conducts a random lottery to select the registrations that will be eligible to file H-1B petitions.
- Selection Notification: Employers whose registrations are selected in the lottery are notified by USCIS. They are then eligible to submit complete H-1B petitions for the selected beneficiaries within a designated filing period, typically starting from April 1st (notification date for 2024: March 31, 2024).
- Filing H-1B Petitions: Once selected, employers have a specified window to submit complete H-1B petitions for the selected beneficiaries. These petitions include all required forms, supporting documents, and filing fees.
- Adjudication: USCIS reviews the submitted H-1B petitions to determine eligibility and compliance with all requirements. If approved, the beneficiary can commence employment in the United States on the specified start date.
TLDR: The H-1B visa program is highly competitive, and the lottery system means that not all registrations will be selected. Make sure to stay updated with the latest guidance from USCIS regarding the registration process and H-1B visa program requirements, and always plan ahead to have your materials ready early for the application process. Don’t forget: If you need to find an employer who will sponsor your work visa, download the FrogHire.ai extension to filter for employers that have a history of work visa sponsorship or specifically post jobs that are nondomestic worker friendly!