US to Commence H-1B Visa Online Filing for FY25 From February
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said the online filing period for H-1B applications for the fiscal year 2025 (FY25) is set to commence in February.
The US agency also disclosed plans to introduce organisational accounts, facilitating collaborative online submissions for H-1B registrations.
The organisational accounts, slated for launch during the FY25 nonimmigrant work visa cap season, will empower multiple individuals within an organisation, including company representatives and legal advisors, to work together on the preparation of H-1B registrations.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said the online filing period for H-1B applications for the fiscal year 2025 (FY25) is set to commence in February.
The US agency also disclosed plans to introduce organisational accounts, facilitating collaborative online submissions for H-1B registrations.
The organisational accounts, slated for launch during the FY25 nonimmigrant work visa cap season, will empower multiple individuals within an organisation, including company representatives and legal advisors, to work together on the preparation of H-1B registrations.
The USCIS said the proposed move will also empower multiple company representatives in the preparation of Form I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker), and also the associated Form I-907 (Request for Premium Processing Service).
Details regarding the availability of organisational accounts and specific H-1B registration dates are expected to be officially announced by the USCIS at the end of January.
Petitions for the visa can be submitted through three avenues: online by the petitioner through their organisational account, online by the petitioner’s legal representative, or as a traditional paper-based petition.
To guide organisations and legal representatives through this process, the USCIS will conduct two national engagement sessions on organisational accounts scheduled for January 23 and January 24, alongside additional smaller sessions leading up to the H-1B registration period.
Streamlining H-1B visa process
The initiative follows the Biden administration’s reforms to enhance the efficiency of the nonimmigrant work visa system, while maintaining the mandated annual cap of 60,000 visas.
The proposed changes aim to streamline eligibility criteria and provide increased flexibility to F-1 students, entrepreneurs, and those associated with nonprofit organisations.
The proposed rule also prohibits related entities from submitting multiple registrations for the same beneficiary, addressing concerns related to misuse and fraud.
