The application submission procedure for the H-1B temporary work visa for the fiscal year 2025 started on March 6, 2024, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration System (USCIS).
The announcement comes amid new changes announced for the further improvement of the program, VisaGuide.World reports.
According to the USCIS press release, the initial registration process that will begin on March 6 will last until March 22, VisaGuide.World reports.
Throughout this period, those applying for the selection process are required to register each beneficiary electronically using a USCIS online account and pay the registration fee for each beneficiary, along with their advocate if they have any.
The H-1B program allows employers in the United States to bring qualified workers in specific fields to come and work in the US in order to fill in the labor shortage gaps, provided they cannot find qualified workers to complete the work.
Improvements on H-1B Visa
In January this year, the USCIS announced the introduction of several customer experience improvements for the H-1B visa process, mainly focusing on digitalization.
USCIS is always striving to improve and streamline our processes, and this is a big step forward. Once we launch the organizational accounts and online filing of I-129 H-1B petitions, the entire H-1B lifecycle becomes fully electronic — from registration, if applicable, to our final decision and transmission to the Department of State.
In December 2023, the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) submitted a public comment to strengthen the Department of Homemade Security (DHS) proposal to change the regulations for the H-1B visa program further.
According to CIS, some aspects of DHS’s proposed rule make it easier for abuse and fraud activities in this program, emphasizing that the rule doesn’t do enough to protect US and international workers.
Moreover, CIS instructed DHS to withdraw unauthorized provisions that, if promulgated, would allow employers who do not qualify for cap-exempt workers to nevertheless game the system, as well as enable certain F-1 nonimmigrant visa holders (students) to automatically extend their stay and work in the United States after graduation, in direct violation of the law.
Among the new changes, companies are allowed to open their account in order to complete the registration process from February 29.
In addition, from October 1, 2025, USCIS will require registrants to provide valid passport information or valid travel document information for each beneficiary.