Preparations have begun for the FY 2025 H-1B electronic registration process and the launch of online filing of Form I-129 for H-1B petitions. All individuals involved in the H-1B registration and petition filing process need to be aware of the new USCIS rules.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced the upcoming launch of a package of customer experience improvements for H-1B cap season. USCIS will launch organizational accounts for non-cap filings and the fiscal year (FY) 2025 H-1B cap season.

The introduction of organizational accounts will allow multiple individuals within an organization, such as a company or other business entity, and their legal representatives to collaborate on and prepare H-1B registrations, Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, and associated Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service.

Through online filing of I-129 H-1B petitions, the entire H-1B lifecycle becomes fully electronic — from registration to the final decision and transmission to the Department of State.

USCIS expects to launch the organizational accounts in February 2024, with online filing of Forms I-129 and I-907 following shortly thereafter. In addition to streamlining the Form I-129 H-1B petition process, these changes should help reduce duplicate H-1B registrations and other common errors.

USCIS will also transition the paper filing location for Forms I-129 and I-907 from service centers to the USCIS lockbox to increase efficiency by standardizing processes and reducing costs.

USCIS will host two national engagements on organizational accounts on Jan. 23 and 24 as well as several smaller sessions leading up to the H-1B registration period to help guide organizations and legal representatives through the process. The measures are expected to increase efficiency and ease collaboration for organizations and their legal representatives.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services also announced that it has received enough petitions to reach the cap for the additional 20,716 H-2B visas made available for returning workers for the first half of fiscal year 2024 with start dates on or before March 31, 2024, under the H-2B supplemental cap temporary final rule (FY 2024 TFR). January 9, 2024, was the final receipt date for petitions requesting supplemental H-2B visas under the FY 2024 first-half returning worker allocation.

The FY 2024 TFR was published on Nov. 17, 2023 and USCIS immediately began accepting H-2B petitions with start dates on or before March 31, 2024, for the 20,716 returning worker allocation for the first half of FY2024.