CPTDog on LinkedIn: USCIS Announces Second H1B Selection for FY 2025: Are You Eligible? (2025)

The 2nd H-1B Lottery is now complete! It is like getting a 2nd chance at an H-1 ⚽ penalty shot. I am briefly discussing what happened and what happens next. Select your target, aim, and place your petition in a zone that even the USCIS cannot RFE your visa 🥅 . What happens:1. The USCIS draws a number of potential H-1B beneficiaries in their initial March Lottery.2. The H-1B petitioning employers then have approximately 3 months to file I-129s and supporting evidence (for the H-1B visas).3. If the USCIS does not receive and approve enough H-1B visas to meet the annual cap, they may decide to hold a second lottery.4. The USCIS holds a 2nd lottery for H-1B registrations that were submitted in March. 5. H-1B beneficiaries who were selected in the 2nd lottery (last week) will now be able to have their employers sponsor their petitions. Your potential H-1B employers should check their USCIS online accounts to see if any of their registrations were selected this time around. The employers will then be able to file I-129s for these fortunate few. * The same H-1B rules apply for this round of petition filings* You still need to have a specialty occupation* You need to qualify for the specialty occupation* Your employer needs to be able to demonstrate the ability to pay the prevailing wage (from the Labor Condition Application, LCA)#immigration #globalmobility #pilots #aviation #h1b #h1bvisa #greencard

20

5 Comments

H-1B Cap Initial Registration Periodto Commence March 6, 2024USCIS has recently announced that the initial registration period for theFY2025 H-1B cap will open at noonEasternon March 6, 2024, and run through noonEastern on March 22, 2024. During this period, prospective petitioners/employers andtheir representatives, if applicable, must use aUSCIS online account to register each beneficiary electronically forthe selection process and pay the associated registrationfeeof $10for eachbeneficiary.USCIS will also implement a new beneficiary-centric system to ensure all beneficiaries have the same chance of selection, regardless of the number of registrations submitted on the beneficiary’s behalf.Finally, USCIS has confirmed that the H-1B registration fee for FY 2025 willnotincrease to a proposed amount of $215 but will remain $10.For more information on the H-1B visa, visit our webpage.https://lnkd.in/gVgDw8f9

2

Latest updates to the H-1B cap registration process. If you're interested in registering for the H-1B cap lottery, now is a great time to get started. #immigration #h1b

5

Are you interested in participating in the H-1B Domestic Renewal Pilot Program but unsure if you qualify? This helpful State Department navigator will guide you through a series of questions to help you assess whether you are eligible to participate in the program: https://lnkd.in/gCXauwMRNote: The Department will make available a maximum of 20,000 application slots during this limited pilot program:Approximately 2,000 per week for applicants whose most recent H-1B visa was issued by U.S. Mission Canada with anissuancedate of January 1, 2020 through April 1, 2023, and approximately 2,000 per week for applicants whose most recent H-1B was issuedby U.S. Mission India with anissuancedate of February 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021.Application slots will be released on the following entry period dates:January 29, 2024February 5, 2024February 12, 2024February 19, 2024February 26, 2024#h1b #usvisa

14

UPDATE: Employers and prospective H-1B beneficiaries! The USCIS has announced that the FY2025 H-1B cap initial registration period kicks off on March 6, 2024, running until noon ET on March 22, 2024. The registration fee remains $10 per entry, and lottery results are expected by March 31, 2024.Notably, this year introduces a beneficiary-centric selection process, aiming to enhance fairness and reduce fraud. Registrations will be selected by unique beneficiary rather than by registration. This requires providing the intended beneficiary’s valid passport information, promoting equal chances for selection.Furthermore, USCIS introduces organizational accounts and online filing for H-1B applications (Form I-129 and I-907) starting February 28, 2024. This allows collaboration within an organization and with legal representatives for seamless preparation. Online filings will be accepted from April 1, 2024, for selected lottery registrations. An exciting leap forward in the H-1B process! Miller Johnson will be hosting a webinar on this topic next Wednesday, Feb 14th at 12:00pm EST. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gxt2qgfi #H1B #USCIS #ImmigrationUpdates

3

We explain how the #USCIS reached its 2024 #H1Bvisa Cap and delve into anticipated timing and changes to the 2025 H-1B lottery registrations and program. Notably, certain #employers that are considered “cap-exempt” have additional H-1B filing opportunities.#immigrationlaw

9

H1B Third Lottery: Why We're Convinced It's Happening!The H-1B visa program consistently garners attention from international professionals and U.S. employers alike. As we inch closer to the second round H1B application file deadline, whispers about the H1B 3rd lottery are growing louder. Let's sift through the data and perspectives to understand the situation better.Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gwq3KGSw

5

Got an RFE on Your Green Card or Visa (H-1B, EB-2, EB-3)Application? Don't Panic! We Can Help.An RFE (Request for Evidence) during the green card process can be stressful, but it doesn't have to mean your application is denied. It simply means USCIS needs more information to make a decision.If you've received an RFE on your application under the H-1B, EB-2, or EB-3 categories, we can help!Here's what our team of immigration experts can do for you:Understand the RFE and identify exactly what USCIS needs.Gather and organize the requested documentation effectively.Craft a compelling response that strengthens your application.Responding to USCIS and ensure your response is submitted within the deadline.Don't let an RFE delay your green card or visa application.Info@internationalevaluations.comhttps://lnkd.in/dSvMg9M6+1 (510) 876-0900#H1B #GreenCard #EB2 #EB3 #USCIS #ImmigrationLawyer #RFE #Internationalevaluations #CredentialevaluationsP.S.Share this post with anyone in your network who might be facing an RFE on their green card application.

5

It's that time of the year again -- as many of our clients are aware, H-1B cap season is just around the corner. We will be reaching out to all clients over the next several weeks to confirm any employees to submit for consideration in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025) H-1B cap lottery.How the H-1B Cap Lottery WorksThere is an annual limit (the "cap") on the number of new H-1Bs granted each government fiscal year. A total of 85,000 new H-1Bs are allocated annually, with 20,000 of these reserved for persons who have graduated from U.S universities with advanced degrees (the "Master's Cap"), and 6,900 allocated to nationals of Singapore and Chile pursuant to Free Trade Agreements with those countries. As has been the case for over 10 years, the demand for new H-1Bs has far exceeded the number of available slots, and the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has accoringly conducted a random selection process (the "cap lottery") to determine which H-1Bs will be processed under its quota.#fy2025 #h1bcap #h1b

1

One sentence summary: The proposed H1B visa improvement eliminates the influence of the number of cap lottery registrations on one's winning odds, whether it's 1️⃣ or 🔟! 🇺🇸⚖️🎓#h1bcap #H1bvisa

2