H1B registration will take place March 6–22, 2024, and there are some noteworthy changes this year. First, starting February 28, employers will be able to create organizational accounts on my.USCIS.gov. These accounts will be upgraded to allow employers and their legal representatives to collaborate on application forms that are filed with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Second, passport numbers or travel document information will be required for all beneficiaries/employees. The system will be beneficiary-centered in an effort to detect multiple registrations filed on behalf of the same beneficiary. Last year, USCIS estimated that more than half of the approximately 780,000 registrations were filed for beneficiaries with multiple registrations (i.e., with different employers). The new system aims to provide all beneficiaries with an equal opportunity for selection. While multiple filings for one person are not prohibited, it does seem to give beneficiaries with multiple registrations a higher chance of being selected and suggests misuse of the registration system. Beneficiaries can only be registered under one passport or travel document.

An attempt to increase the registration fee to $215 was unsuccessful; it will stay at $10. If selected, employers will have to file the H1B application within 90 days. If approved, work can commence on or after Oct. 1.

If you have employees currently working on student visas (F1/OPT) or potential hires who are foreign nationals, act now to be ready for the upcoming registration.