H-1B visa program, which is highly sought after by American technology giants and Indian professionals, is set to open its initial registration period on March 1st, 2023. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the registration period will run until March 17th, 2023, during which time prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to submit their applications through the agency’s online registration system.
The H-1B visa program allows companies in the United States to bring in high-skilled foreign workers, particularly in the technology sector, to fill positions that cannot be filled by American workers. Indian nationals are the largest recipients of H-1B visas, accounting for about 70% of the new visas issued each year. However, in recent years, American technology companies have been the largest recipients of these visas. It remains to be seen how the recent wave of tech layoffs in the United States will impact the demand for H-1B visas this year, as the program typically receives far more applications than the 85,000 visas that are available.
The USCIS stated that a $10 registration fee will be required during the initial registration period. If the agency receives enough registrations by March 17th, they will randomly select registrations and notify account holders by March 31st. If they do not receive enough registrations, all properly submitted registrations will be selected. Prospective petitioners can create new accounts, which are required for the application, on February 21st.
It’s worth noting that the U.S. Department of Treasury has approved a temporary increase in the daily credit card transaction limit from $24,999.99 to $39,999.99 per day for the FY 2024 H-1B cap season. This increase is to accommodate the volume of previous H-1B registrations that exceeded the daily credit card limit, the agency said.
In order to be eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition, including a petition for a beneficiary who is eligible for the advanced degree exemption, a petitioner must have their registration for the beneficiary selected in the H-1B registration process. The USCIS will provide additional information before the start of the initial registration period.
This year’s H-1B visa registration period is expected to be competitive as always, with thousands of technology professionals and companies vying for the limited number of visas available. The registration period is a crucial first step for those looking to secure an H-1B visa, and it’s important for interested parties to be aware of the deadlines and requirements.
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