Introduction:
USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) have announced that the annual quota of 85,000 H-1B cap beneficiaries has been met in the initial registration period for FY 2025. Employers and foreign nationals involved in the H-1B visa program need to be aware of the outcomes and next steps following the lottery selection.
Impact:
- High: Significant impact on employers and foreign nationals involved in the H-1B visa program, especially those selected in the lottery.
What has changed?
USCIS has completed the selection process for the FY 2025 H-1B cap beneficiaries, meeting the annual quota of 85,000.
Employers have been notified of the selection results and can access their USCIS accounts to view beneficiary statuses.
Who is affected?
- Employers intending to sponsor H-1B visa applicants.
- Foreign nationals seeking H-1B employment in the United States.
- US Attorneys and authorised signatories involved in the H-1B filing process.
What to expect/impact:
Employers and foreign nationals selected in the lottery must prepare for the H-1B petition filing period, which lasts from April 1 to June 30, 2024.
Individuals not selected in the initial lottery may still be considered for selection if USCIS does not receive enough petitions to meet the annual quota during the filing period.
What you need to do:
Employers must review the USCIS lottery results online and determine the status of each beneficiary.
For selected beneficiaries, prepare and file H-1B cap petitions within the designated filing period.
They must remain informed about USCIS updates and any subsequent lottery selections that may occur.
For further information on these developments or other questions related to US immigration, please contact the Sterling Lexicon immigration team at immigration@sterlinglexicon.com.
Sterling Lexicon will continue to monitor H-1B cap developments and provide updates throughout the filing season.
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