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H-1B Visa Electronic Registration is Almost Here

2/18/2021
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H-1B filing season is just around the corner and if your business is hopeful to land one of these coveted visas, the time to start preparing is now. USCIS recently announced the initial registration period will run between March 9, 2021, and March 25, 2021. 
 

The H-1B Visa Application Process

 
For the second year in a row, an online registration process will be used to streamline the exchange of information between USCIS and employers. Nominal information is needed to register, such as:
 
  • Legal name 
  • Gender
  • Date of birth 
  • Country of birth
  • Country of citizenship
 
The registration will also want to know if the applicant is, or will be, eligible for the advanced-degree cap. 
 
Provided registrations outnumber the H-1B cap—there is no indication this won’t happen—prospective petitioners will be chosen via lottery, as has been the practice in prior years. The DHS announced the delay of the implementation of a Trump-era regulation that would have shifted the lottery to a wage-tiered system. 
 
USCIS will notify employers and their immigration counsel of winning registrations by March 31, 2021. On April 1, 2021, USCIS will start to accept cap petitions. It’s important to note that, while registration requires minimal information, it is imperative that businesses enter this period prepared and should work with counsel to ensure the best success for the H-1B visa. Proactive businesses will also have begun collecting the supporting information and documentation to ensure a smooth filing. Immigration counsel will walk you through what is needed. 
 

H-1B Visas

 
Only 65,000 H-1B visas are made available each year with an additional 20,000 open to individuals possessing a U.S. master’s degree or higher. The imposed quota is called the H-1B Cap. To highlight how in-demand these visas are, USCIS received about 275,000 registrations last year. Roughly 46% of all registrations were for prospective petitioners with U.S. advanced degrees.
 

Goffwilson Immigration Law 

 
GoffWilson is a valuable partner in the H-1B process, ensuring the smooth navigation of everything from registration to filing a full petition. We can also ensure that potential beneficiaries are worthy of an H-1B visa, saving businesses time and money in the long run. GoffWilson’s complete H-1B petition packages include the required USCIS forms and filing fees, a Labor Condition Application (LCA), information surrounding the employer and the offered position, and documentation regarding the employee.  
 
Do you have questions about the H-1B Visa and the application process surrounding it? Our H-1B team has assisted thousands of employers and employees with H-1B applications and we are waiting to help you. Contact GoffWilson today and set yourself up for success this H-1B season.
Filed under:H-1B Visa, Immigration Law