USCIS Announces Dates for FY 2025 H-1B Cap Lottery: What You Need to Know

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially announced the dates for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 H-1B cap lottery. The registration period will open on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at noon ET and close on Friday, March 22, 2024, at noon ET.

What is the H-1B Cap Lottery?

The H-1B cap lottery is an annual process that selects new H-1B candidates who will be eligible to file an H-1B petition and, if approved, begin H-1B employment on October 1, 2024. This lottery is designed to meet the annual H-1B quota, which includes a regular quota of 65,000 workers and a master's quota of 20,000 workers who have obtained their master's degree or higher from a U.S. university.

How Does the Lottery Work?

During the registration period, employers and their legal representatives complete an online registration that includes basic information about the petitioner/employer and each prospective worker. They also pay a $10 registration fee for each prospective worker. Once the registration period closes, USCIS will run a random computer-generated selection process to choose enough electronic registrations to meet the annual H-1B quota.

New Beneficiary-Centric Selection Process

In an effort to make the H-1B process more fair for all applicants, USCIS has announced a new beneficiary-centric selection process. This new process aims to level the playing field and prevent unfair advantages that may have occurred in previous years. Last year, USCIS received a significant number of registrations from workers who had submitted multiple registrations, raising concerns of potential fraud.

Under the new beneficiary-centric system, USCIS will require a beneficiary's valid passport or travel document information at the time of registration. Multiple registrations for the same worker will no longer be allowed. USCIS will exercise discretion in cases of legal name changes or changes in passport information, but evidence of the valid change or circumstances must be provided.

Takeaway

Employers should be aware of the upcoming H-1B cap lottery registration process and the changes implemented by USCIS. It is important to contact legal counsel for any questions or concerns regarding the registration process and to ensure compliance with the new beneficiary-centric selection process.