Changes to H-1B Visa Lottery Registration Finalized by USCIS

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced its intent to strengthen the integrity of  the H-1B registration process by introducing changes to the current electronic registration system. The final rule published on February 2, 2024, aims to ensure that regardless of how many  H-1B registrations are submitted on behalf of a foreign national, the odds of that person being selected in the H-1B lottery will not increase. The new rule implements a “beneficiary-centered selection process for H-1B registrations”, which means that instead of selecting by registration, which has been the norm since 2020, USCIS will select registrations by the unique beneficiary.

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H-1B Domestic Renewal Pilot Program

The Department of State (“DOS”) has updated details on the long-awaited domestic visa renewal pilot program for H-1B renewal applicants. The program officially launched on January 29, 2024, and allows applicants who received an H-1B visa from a US embassy or consulate in Canada or India during a specific timeframe to renew H-1B visas without traveling to U.S. consulates abroad. A maximum of 20,000 applications will be accepted until April 1, 2024, or when all slots are filled.

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