The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the registration period for the H-1B visa cap for the fiscal year 2026 will commence on March 7, 2025, at noon Eastern Time, and conclude on March 24, 2025, at noon Eastern Time.
Key Changes in the H-1B Registration Process
This year, employers sponsoring H-1B visa applicants will encounter several significant changes:
1. Increased Registration Fee: The registration fee has been raised to $215 per beneficiary, a substantial increase from the previous year's fee of $10.
2. Beneficiary-Centric Selection Process: Under the new system, each beneficiary is entered into the lottery only once, regardless of the number of registrations submitted on their behalf. This approach aims to prevent multiple entries for the same individual, thereby reducing the potential for system manipulation.
3. Enhanced Account Features: USCIS has introduced several improvements to streamline the registration process:
Paralegal Assistance: Paralegals can now assist multiple attorneys through a single account, facilitating more efficient collaboration.
Simplified Legal Team Collaboration: Legal representatives can more easily add paralegals to company accounts, enhancing teamwork.
Pre-Filled Form Data: Certain fields on Form I-129 will autofill based on selected registrations, reducing manual data entry.
Spreadsheet Upload Feature: Employers can prepare beneficiary data in a spreadsheet and upload it to the system for faster registration.
Payment Updates
To accommodate the increased registration fees and the volume of applications, the U.S. Department of Treasury has temporarily increased the daily credit card transaction limit from $24,999.99 to $99,999.99 for the FY 2026 H-1B season. Payments exceeding this amount must be made via Automated Clearing House (ACH), and some banks may require prior authorization for ACH transactions.
Preparation Steps for Employers
Employers should take the following steps to prepare for the upcoming registration period:
1. Create or Update USCIS Online Account: Ensure you have a USCIS online account. If you had an H-1B registrant account for FY 2021–FY 2024 but didn’t use it for FY 2025, it will convert to an organizational account upon your next login.
2. Familiarize with New Features: Understand the new account features to streamline the registration process.
3. Prepare Beneficiary Information: Gather all necessary information for each beneficiary to facilitate a smooth registration.
4. Plan for Payment: Be prepared for the increased registration fee and ensure your payment method can accommodate the new limits.
By proactively addressing these changes, employers can navigate the H-1B registrat
ion process more efficiently and effectively.
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