BREAKING NEWS: USCIS Streamlines H-1B Process for Companies with Online Filing

Washington, D.C. – In a major shift for skilled worker visas, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced a package of customer experience improvements designed to streamline the H-1B cap season for companies and their legal teams.

This marks a significant step towards digitizing the entire H-1B system and comes just months before the highly competitive lottery process begins in March. Here’s what’s changing:

• Organizational Accounts: In February 2024, companies and their legal representatives can establish secure online accounts. This allows multiple individuals to collaborate on H-1B registrations, petitions, and premium processing requests, reducing the risk of errors and duplicate submissions.
• Online Form Filing: Following the launch of organizational accounts, USCIS will move Form I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) and Form I-907 (Premium Processing Service) entirely online. This eliminates the need for paper submissions and offers real-time tracking and status updates.
• Improved Customer Support: USCIS is expanding its resources for H-1B inquiries, including enhanced online resources and public engagement sessions. This aims to provide clearer guidance and address frequently asked questions before and during the cap season.

Impact on H-1B Cap Season:

These changes are expected to significantly impact the upcoming H-1B cap season, which starts with registration on March 1, 2024. While the annual cap of 65,000 visas remains unchanged, the new system aims to create a more efficient and error-free process for companies seeking to sponsor highly skilled foreign workers.

Stay tuned for further updates as USCIS rolls out these exciting changes!