Preliminary registration results for FY 2025 H-1B cap released

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has completed the initial electronic registration selection process for fiscal year (FY) 2025 H-1B number allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption (master’s degree cap).

USCIS confirmed that they received sufficient unique beneficiary electronic registrations during the initial registration period to meet the FY 2025 H-1B number allocation requirements.

“We randomly select a sufficient number of correctly filed registrations for the unique beneficiaries expected to be required to reach the H-1B cap and notify all potential applicants for the selected beneficiaries that they are eligible to file H-1B for such beneficiaries cap petition,” USCIS said in a press release.

Candidates can check the status of their online account by clicking on the registration link.

The status can be one of the following:

Submitted – Indicates eligibility for selection.

Selected – means selected to file an H-1B cap petition.

Not Selected – Indicates not eligible to file under registration.

Denial – Duplicate Registration – Indicates multiple registrations by the same registrant for the same beneficiary.

Invalid – Payment Failed – Indicates that the registration was submitted but the payment method was declined or invalid.

Deleted – Indicates that the registration has been deleted and is no longer eligible.

Processing Submission – Indicates USCIS is processing the submission, which may take up to 72 hours.

New fee and form versions

From April 1, 2024, Fiscal Year 2025 H-1B cap applications, including advanced degree exemption applications, can be submitted to USCIS. Only those who have registered selected beneficiaries can submit these petitions.

To properly submit an application, registrants may submit a petition online at my.uscis.gov or by mail within the 90 days specified in the election notice.

The new fee structure for immigration applications and petitions announced by the USCIS on January 31, 2024 will be effective on April 1, 2024.

“On January 31, 2024, USCIS issued a final rule adjusting the fees required for most immigration applications and petitions. The new fees are effective April 1, 2024. Postmarked April 1, 2024 or subsequent petitions must include the new fees or we will not accept them,” the U.S. agency said in a release.

Petitions postmarked on or after this date must include the updated fee.

USCIS increases fees for beneficiaries to file H-1B petitions –H-1B application fees will increase by 70%, L-1 application fees will increase by 201%, and O-1 application fees will increase by 129%.

In addition, a new version of Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, will be available on April 1, 2024.

“A new version of Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Workers, will be launched on April 1, 2024. There will be no grace period for filing the new Form I-129 because it must include new fee calculations,” the U.S. agency said.

H-1B Form I-129 Filing Location Changed to LOCKBOX

Effective April 1, all paper H-1B and H-1B1 (HSC) Form I-129 Petitions must be filed at a USCIS lockbox location and not directly with USCIS Service Center.

Applications received at a USCIS Service Center on or after April 1 will be denied.

The specific mailing address for H-1B cases can be found on the Form I-129 Direct Filing Address page.

February 28, USCIS launches new online organizational account myUSCISfor collaboration and preparation of H-1B registrations, applications and related I-907 forms.

Online filing of Form I-129 for uncapped H-1B petitions was launched on March 25, followed by online filing of H-1B capped petitions and related Form I-907 starting on April 1.

While paper filing remains an option, users will not be able to link paper-filed Forms I-129 and I-907 to their online account during initial activation of the organization’s account.