Deadline Approaching: H-1B visa registration for FY25 to close on March 22

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H-1B visas, sought by foreign guest workers, is set to close at noon Eastern Time on March 22, according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), PTI reported. Prospective petitioners and legal representatives are required to use the online account of the USCIS during this period. They must electronically register for the selection process and pay the associated registration fee for each beneficiary, the federal agency said on March 18.

It added that users of online accounts will also benefit from collaborative registration and petitioning through enhanced organisational account features. Form I-129, a petition for a non-immigrant worker, for H-1B petitions, and Form I-907, a request for premium processing service, are accessible in USCIS online accounts, the release added. USCIS will commence accepting online filing of the forms for H-1B cap petitions on April 1.

"We will announce when online filing of non-cap H-1B petitions is available," USCIS said. Also Read | H-1B visas: ‘Indians to benefit most’ The H-1B visa programme or US work visa programme is witnessing significant tweaks and the USCIS cites that the changes are aimed at strengthening the integrity of the programme and reducing the potential for fraud during the registration process. — From April 1, a candidate has to pay $110 in visa fees, which is a significant rise from $10.

The visa fee has been hiked for the first time since 2016. Apart from this, registration fees for H-1B visas have been hiked from $10 to $215. — The FY 2025 H-1B cap introduces a lottery system where registrations are chosen based on individual beneficiaries, not employers.