Update: USCIS to Launch Electronic H-1B Registration Process Starting March 1
March 23, 2020
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is poised to implement a new electronic H-1B registration process for fiscal year 2021 H-1B cap-subject petitions. The agency recently released new details.
USCIS will open an initial registration period from noon ET March 1, 2020, through noon ET March 20, 2020, for the FY 2021 H-1B numerical allocations. Registrants and representatives may create accounts beginning February 24, 2020, and register throughout the initial registration period.
USCIS released updated details on February 21, 2020:
Submitting an H-1B registration requires a USCIS online account. The appropriate type depends on the submitter's role:
- Representatives will use the same type of representative account that is already available and may use an existing account.
- Prospective petitioners submitting their own registrations (U.S. employers and U.S. agents, collectively known as "registrants") will use a new "registrant" account that will be available beginning Feb. 24.
Representatives may add clients to their accounts at any time, but both representatives and registrants must wait until March 1 at noon ET to enter beneficiary information, submit registrations, and pay the $10 non-refundable registration fee for each beneficiary.
The initial registration period will run from noon Eastern March 1 through noon Eastern March 20, 2020. Account creation and registration will remain available throughout this period. Selections will take place after the initial registration period closes, so there is no requirement to register on March 1.
If USCIS receives enough registrations by March 20, the agency will randomly select registrations and send selection notifications via users' USCIS online accounts. USCIS said it intends to notify account holders by March 31, 2020.
An H-1B cap-subject petition may only be filed by a petitioner whose registration for that beneficiary was selected in the H-1B registration process.
To create an H-1B registration account, go to https://my.uscis.gov/ on or after February 24. From March 1, employers are advised to work closely with their ABIL law firm to register and submit all registrations by March 20, 2020. The filing period for submitting H-1B petitions begins on April 1, 2020, and will end no earlier than June 30, 2020. USCIS will not accept late filings.
Details:
· USCIS announcement issued February 21, 2020, https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-announces-h-1b-registration-account-creation
· USCIS announcement issued January 10, 2020, https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-formally-announces-implementation-electronic-h-1b-registration-process-and-registration-timeframe
· USCIS H-1B electronic registration process information with links, https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations-and-fashion-models/h-1b-electronic-registration-process
· Federal Register notice, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/01/09/2020-00182/registration-requirement-for-petitioners-seeking-to-file-h-1b-petitions-on-behalf-of-cap-subject