The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced the H-1B cap visa registration process for the 2024 Fiscal Year. Registration will open March 1 at noon eastern time and is set to close on March 17 at noon eastern time. Accordingly, employers should have all relevant information prepared ahead of time. USCIS has simplified the registration process from previous years, now requiring very basic information about the employer and the prospective employee and a $10.00 registration fee.
The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require specialized knowledge (e.g. workers with a college degree or higher related to the offered job). The H-1B classification has an annual numerical limit (cap) of 65,000 new visas each fiscal year. An additional 20,000 petitions filed on behalf of beneficiaries with a master’s degree or higher from a U.S. institution of higher education are exempt from the cap. Generally, the number of registrations filed with USCIS far exceeds the numerical cap. As such, USCIS utilizes a “lottery” system to select registrants who are then allowed to file a petition with USCIS.
H-1B work authorization is a great resource for employers to hire foreign nationals with a relevant higher education degree. In addition, it can allow employers to continue employment of foreign nationals currently working on a different work visa that may eventually expire—such as an F1 student visa.
More information about the H-1B visa (and other employment-based temporary work visas) can be found here.
Published By: Mark Cameron and Amie Wilcox