USCIS announced that it will implement a new H-1B registration process for the fiscal year 2021 cap season.

Under the new process, employers seeking to file an H-1B cap-subject petition will first electronically register and pay a $10 fee. Employers will also provide basic information about their company and the requested worker. The initial registration period will run from March 1 to March 20, 2020. If the candidate’s registration is selected, then the full H-1B petition may be submitted.

Under the old system, employers would submit their entire petition to enter the lottery. A costly and time-consuming effort.

An H-1B Visa allows holders to live and work in the US for up to three years at a time. There is an annual numerical limitation of 65,000 H-1B Visas, with an additional 20,000 available to those with US advanced degrees. H-1B extensions, requests for concurrent employment and changes of terms of current employment all do not count towards the quota. Still, each year demand far exceeds supply.

This new system seeks to streamline processing by reducing paperwork, data exchange and costs. However, these changes will also likely lead to more people applying for H-1B Visas. Ultimately, the impacts of these rule changes will only be realized once the data from the upcoming H-1B season is released.

Click here to learn more about the H-1B and the H-1B process.