H-1B Visa Rules Released for 2025: For the financial year 2025 registration period, USCIS mandates registrants to have valid passport or travel document details for each beneficiary. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced a new rule to make the H-1B registration process stronger and reduce the risk of deception. This rule will start in the fiscal year 2025 (FY 2025) for the H-1B cap. It brings in a way of choosing beneficiaries that focuses on each individual. The goal is to ensure fairness and equal chances for all beneficiaries, regardless of how many registrations are submitted for them.
USCIS wants to stop people from trying to cheat the H-1B visa system. They are concerned about this and have given a warning. The important change in the rules is to make the selection process fair. Now, registrations are chosen based on the special qualities of each person, not just how many are submitted. This change is meant to reduce the chance of fraud and make sure everyone has an equal chance of being selected.
With the new rule, they now choose registrations based on the unique qualities of each person, not just how many are submitted. This change is meant to reduce the chance of fraud and make sure everyone has a fair chance of being selected. Starting from the FY 2025 registration, USCIS requires people to provide valid passport or travel document details for each person they’re registering.
Additionally, the new rules explain when someone can start a job after getting approval for an H-1B visa. Now, they can ask to start work after October 1 of the relevant fiscal year.
USCIS has also said they will allow online filing for Forms I-129 and I-907 for H-1B petitioners.
H-1B Visa Rules Released for 2025
- These final rules introduce a process focusing on each individual during employer registration.
- The start date becomes more flexible for specific petitions under the H-1B cap.
- Additional measures are implemented to ensure honesty in the registration process.
- Registrations are chosen based on unique individuals, not just the number of submissions.
- USCIS mandates registrants to provide valid passport or travel document details for each person from the FY 2025 initial registration period.
- The provided passport or travel document must match the one intended for use when entering the United States with an H-1B visa if abroad.
- Each person is restricted to a single registration under one passport or travel document.
- USCIS explains the criteria for the requested start date of employment in specific petitions under the H-1B cap.
- Filings can now request start dates after October 1 of the relevant fiscal year, following existing policy.
- Under the new rules, USCIS can reject or cancel petitions with false information or invalid registrations.
- The approval of an H-1B petition can also be rejected or canceled if the associated registration fee is unpaid, disputed, or invalid after submission.
- USCIS introduces Fee Schedule rules, effective after the initial registration period for the FY 2025 H-1B cap, maintaining the registration fee at $10 during the March 2024 registration period.
- A new version of Form I-129, incorporating the H-1B Registration rules and Fee Schedule rules, will soon be available on uscis.gov (edition date 04/01/24).
- Only the 04/01/24 edition of Form I-129 will be accepted from April 1, 2024.
- The H-1B Registration rules finalize certain provisions proposed in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Oct. 23, 2023.
- It’s essential to note that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to publish a separate final rule addressing the remaining provisions in the NPRM.
FY 2025 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period The initial registration period for the FY 2025 H-1B cap will start on March 6, 2024, and continue until March 22, 2024. During this time, potential petitioners and their representatives, if applicable, must use a USCIS online account to register each person electronically for the selection process and pay the associated registration fee for each person.
The H-1B Visa Rules Released for 2025 is a significant way for skilled foreign workers to contribute to the US economy. It allows US employers to hire highly skilled professionals from other countries for specialized roles. This program has faced scrutiny recently due to concerns about fraud and misuse. The new rules aim to address these concerns and strengthen the integrity of the program.
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