TanyaJan 31, 2024 9:58:00 AM3 min read

H1B Lottery 2025: Key Changes and Fee Hikes in the Visa Process

At a Glance: H1B Lottery 2025 Updates

Introduction of online filing system for H1B petitions, effective February 2024.
New 'organizational accounts' feature in the H-1B e-registration platform.
Transition to a completely paperless H1-B petition process.
Proposed H1B pre-registration fee hike from $10 to $215.
Overall visa fee hikes for various categories including H1B, L1, and EB5.

H1B Lottery 2025: Navigating the New Landscape

The H1B Visa, a critical pathway for professionals aiming to work in the United States, is set to experience significant changes as we look towards the fiscal year 2025. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is at the forefront of these changes, focusing on modernizing the H1-B visa program through a series of new reforms and digital upgrades. This article delves into the essential changes that applicants should be aware of for the H1B lottery 2025.

Online Filing System and Organizational Accounts

The introduction of an online filing system marks a significant shift in the H1B visa application process. Starting in February 2024, this system aims to streamline the application procedure, making it more efficient and user-friendly. Alongside this digital transition is the introduction of 'organizational accounts' within the H-1B e-registration platform. This feature will enable better collaboration among individuals from the same organization and their legal representatives, thereby addressing the issue of overrepresentation in H-1B visa registrations.

The shift to online filing also means that the entire H1-B petition process becomes paperless, from registration to processing and final selection. Applicants and employers are offered the flexibility to file H-1B petitions online or continue with traditional paper-based filing methods. However, it is crucial to note that the H1-B registration process remains exclusively online.

Program Integrity & Beneficiary-Centric Selection

In October 2023, USCIS proposed new rules aiming to enhance the integrity of the H-1B registration process. This "beneficiary-centric selection" approach, expected to be implemented in the FY 2025 H-1B registrations, is designed to reduce fraud and abuse. It will ensure a fair selection chance by considering each beneficiary only once in the lottery, regardless of multiple registrations by different employers. Additionally, the new rules will prevent multiple registrations for the same employee by related entities, a significant change from current practices. This update aims to make the selection process more equitable and transparent.

However, judging from the USCIS online public webinar held on 23 Jan, this change might not be implemented in FY 2025. During the Q&A session of the webinar, a USCIS official "unofficially" confirmed that the application rules and procedures are going to remain similar to FY2024's practice.

Fee Hikes and Financial Implications

A major financial change on the horizon is the proposed hike in the H1B pre-registration fee, increasing it by 2050% from the current $10 to $215. This is part of a broader visa fee hike proposal by USCIS across various categories, aiming to address the increasing costs of managing the H1B registration system and meeting the agency's operating expenses.

H1B Lottery 2025 Timeline

The official timeline for the H1B Visa 2025 process has not been announced by USCIS. However, based on historical patterns from previous years, the expected timeline may include the following:

Late February 2024: Opening for H1B registration submissions by employers.
March 1st to March 17th, 2024: Period for submitting H1B registrations.
March 18th to March 31st, 2024: H1B lottery selection and results announcement.
April 1st to June 30th, 2024: Filing period for H1B petitions of selected applicants.
From April 1st, 2024: Processing of H1B petitions by USCIS.
From July 1st, 2024: H1B Visa stamping at US Consulates for applicants outside the US.
From October 1st, 2024: The start date for working on H1B Visa for the fiscal year 2025.

Please note that these dates are estimated and subject to official confirmation by USCIS. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it is advisable to check the USCIS website or relevant official sources.

USCIS Resources Regarding H1B 2025 Lottery:

Tanya

Co-Founder of CPTDog. A former international student turned entrepreneur with 12 years of experience navigating the immigration journey from F1 to Green Card.