INTRODUCTION
USCIS has announced implementation of New H-1B electronic registration process beginning fiscal year 2021, for both Regular and Master’s quota cases. The Registration process will include a $10 H-1B registration fee. Petitioners are now required to first electronically register and pay the associated $10 H-1B registration fee and petition will be filed only on selected registrations.
On January 31, 2019, DHS had issued the final preregistration rule for Petitioners seeking to file H-1B cap petitions. GLF had published Newsletters on key elements of the preregistration rule in November and December 2018. This rule was however not implemented in time for the FY2020 H-1B filing season, as the computer systems to accept Registrations were not yet in place. Additionally, Registrations were expected to be free of charge; but USCIS subsequently announced the $10 fee.
The dust has settled and it is official now that the registration system will be open in time for the FY2021 H-1B Cap Season (April 1, 2020 filings) and will include a $10 fee.
GLF TO SUBMIT ELECTRONIC REGISTRATIONS
GLF will assist all of its employer clients, as your authorized representative, with the Electronic Registration Process FREE of charge – GLF to charge only the $10 Registration Fee and not any legal fee. The initial registration period is open from March 1, 2020 to March 20, 2020. If you are an existing corporate client of GLF, we already have your details in our system.
Please send Beneficiary Details as listed below, latest by February 15, 2020, to GLF – so, we can submit the Electronic Registration to USCIS on behalf of your prospective employee
- Legal Name of Beneficiary
- Gender
- Date of Birth
- Country of Birth
- Country of Citizenship
- Passport Number
- Regular or Advanced Degree
USCIS will conduct the H-1B random selection process (or lottery), if needed, on the initial registrations. Only those with selected registrations will be eligible to file H-1B cap-subject petitions. Based on earlier information, we expect that H-1B petitions will be submitted in a 90-day window beginning April 1 (April 1 to June 30). Filing of petitions may also be staggered during that 90-day window and we are awaiting additional details from USCIS.
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At GLF will continue to follow further developments in this matter and we will provide updates through our Newsletter as and when they become available.
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