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United States: H-1B Cap Is Reached for FY 2025

12/03/2024

At a glance USCIS announced today that it has received enough cap petitions to fill the 85,000 slots available for H-1B employment in the current fiscal year. Earlier this year, USCIS conducted two separate lottery selections, in March and August, to select enough cap registrations to meet the quota. The agency will not run a third cap lottery selection for H-1B employment in FY 2025. A closer look USCIS has received enough...

Amazon, Infosys, Google: These major IT firms in US cut H-1B Visa sponsorships in 2024; How does it affect Indians?

11/22/2024

In a significant shift, leading US companies such as Google, Amazon, Infosys and IBM have sponsored fewer H-1B visas in 2024, according to data released by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The H-1B visa program is essential for international students and skilled foreign nationals seeking employment in the United States, allowing them to work for up to three years, with the possibility of a three-year extension....

Reminder – Second H-1B Cap Petition Filing Period for FY 2025 Closes November 7

10/29/2024

At a glance Employers have less than two weeks to file petitions for foreign nationals selected in the second FY 2025 H-1B cap lottery – the filing period ends on November 7, 2024. It is not yet known whether USCIS will conduct a third lottery for cap employment in FY 2025. The agency is unlikely to announce a third lottery before mid-November at the earliest. The issue The second filing period for the Fiscal Year (FY)...

The Top 5 Actions for H-1B Cap Employers to Take as of October 1, 2024

10/04/2024

Once an employee’s H-1B change of status becomes effective on October 1, certain obligations are required of sponsoring employers. Employers, please take note of these reminders today. I-9 Reverification for Certain Student Employees . Employees who were working pursuant to USCIS Cap Gap (see USCIS Cap Gap Guidance) with an expired student Employment Authorization Document (EAD) must reverify their work authorization pursuant to their...

New H-1B Rule and Potential Immigration Restrictions Expected by Year-End

08/22/2024

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is set to publish a final rule on H-1B visas, anticipated to introduce significant changes. This proposed rule includes contentious measures that mirror a previously blocked Trump administration rule, sparking concerns among businesses and immigration advocates. Key points of contention include the “directly related specific specialty” requirement for specialty occupations and the...

H-1B Bulletin - Additional H-1B Visas Available for 2025

08/13/2024

USCIS recently announced that they would need to select additional registrations for unique beneficiaries to reach the fiscal year 2025 H-1B regular cap numerical allocation. Only petitioners with selected registrations may file H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY 2025, and only for the beneficiary named in the applicable selected registration notice. An H-1B cap-subject petition must be properly filed at the correct filing location or online...

2nd H-1B Lottery Results

08/09/2024

USCIS just announced that it selected 13,607 additional beneficiaries in the second round of the FY 2025 H-1B cap. Adding these selections to the first round of 114,017 beneficiaries, a total of 127,624 beneficiaries were selected in this year’s lottery. There were a total of 442,000 beneficiaries who had H-1B registrations filed for them this year (470,342 registrations, taking duplicates into account). This means that the chance of...

USCIS Will Run Second FY 2025 H-1B Cap Lottery

08/01/2024

Today USCIS announced that it plans to run a second lottery of properly submitted FY 2025 H-1B cap registrations to select additional unique beneficiaries. The additional lottery is taking place because USCIS did not receive enough H-1B cap petitions during the initial 90-day filing period to meet the 65,000 regular quota for FY 2025. Employers and their representatives should begin receiving USCIS notifications that additional H-1B cap...

New H-1B visa rules to be released on July 8: How could they impact on Indians?

07/11/2024

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is gearing up to reveal a set of new regulations for H-1B visas, with implications that could reshape the landscape for both employers and professionals, notably those from India. The proposed regulations are slated for release on July 8, marking the initiation of a public commentary period before the visa alterations become official. H-1B visas serve as the primary avenue for...

Looking for an Alternative to the H-1B Visa Lottery? Consider These 8 Options for Employing Foreign Nationals

07/10/2024

Missing out on the H-1B visa lottery can be disheartening, but it’s not necessarily the end of the road. If you employ foreign nationals, the good news is that you can explore certain short-term, long-term, and even some lesser-known solutions that may ensure foreign national employment in the future. Here’s a quick overview of eight key alternatives for workers who are not chosen under the H-1B cap. 1. Additional H-1B Options H-1B...

CBP Plans to Expand Biometric Fee for H-1B and L-1 Visa Extensions

07/09/2024

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has proposed extending the 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee to include extensions of stay for H-1B and L-1 visas. This change could significantly impact employers with a workforce where over 50% hold these visas. Current vs. Proposed Regulations Current: The fee, $4,000 for H-1B and $4,500 for L-1 visas, applies only to initial filings and employer modifications for “covered...

New H-1B Rule and Potential Immigration Restrictions Expected by Year-End

07/09/2024

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is set to publish a final rule on H-1B visas, anticipated to introduce significant changes. This proposed rule includes contentious measures that mirror a previously blocked Trump administration rule, sparking concerns among businesses and immigration advocates. Key points of contention include the “directly related specific specialty” requirement for specialty occupations and the...

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