USCIS recently published its formal notice in the Federal Register about the implementation of the H-1B visa electronic registration system. All employers seeking to submit H-1B cap visa petitions for the fiscal year 2021 must first register using this automated tool and pay a $10 registration fee per named beneficiary.
The initial registration period will run from March 1, 2020, to March 20, 2020. Employers must submit a separate registration for each prospective employee whom they wish to sponsor. If USCIS receives enough registrations, then USCIS will randomly choose the number of registrations that they project is necessary to meet the H-1B visa numerical allocations for FY 2021. USCIS will notify registrants whether their registrations have been selected no later than March 31, 2020. Those employers with registrations chosen will have an eligibility period in which to file their full H-1B visa applications.
Although employers can submit multiple registrations during a single online submission, they can only submit one registration per foreign worker during any fiscal year. If an employer provides any duplicate registrations for the same beneficiary during the same fiscal year, USCIS will invalidate all registrations submitted by an employer for that beneficiary.
USCIS also announced its intent to provide updated guidance and step-by-step instructions online closer to March 1, 2020. As of this date, USCIS has not published additional guidance. However, USCIS plans to hold a webinar for registrants on February 6, 2020, and a webinar for attorneys and applicants on February 11, 2020.
The immigration lawyers of Peek Law Group have handled the legal immigration matters of countless individuals and businesses. We are here to protect your rights and advocate on your behalf. Our goal is to get the best outcome possible in your situation. Call our office today at (512) 399-2311 to set up an appointment with our immigration attorneys.