As most of you know, USCIS implemented new changes for the H1B Lottery process for the Fiscal Year(FY) 2025 Season that will help reduce the fraud during H1B registration period. Unlike previous years, this year, for the FY 2025 season, they released the H1B Lottery results quietly on a Wednesday, March 27th, 2024, evening instead of a Friday, which everyone were expecting.
We had lottery results trickling in over the last few days, including the weekend, and finally, today, we have an official news release from USCIS indicating that they have completed the initial round lottery for the H1B FY 2025 season to reach the H1B annual cap. In this article, we will review the USCIS press release details on what it means and address common questions around the same.
If you are looking for general updates on H1B FY 2025 Season , you may read H1B 2025 – Latest News, Timeline, FAQs.
USCIS Official News Release: H1B 2025 Cap Reached
We have been tracking the H1B Lottery results since last week, Wednesday, March 27th, 2024. We had a lot of unofficial updates from the user community and attorney community over the last few days since last Wednesday. You can read more at H1B 2025 Lottery results and Unofficial Updates
Today, April 1st, 2024, USCIS made an official press note indicating that they have reached the H1B Cap for the fiscal year(FY) 2025 season and completed sending out the notifications to users for the initial round of lottery selections. Below is the press release summary and details by topic.
H1B 2025 Initial Round Lottery Selection Completed, Notified employers
- USCIS says that they have received enough number of H1B registrations to meet the H1B visa cap quota for the Fiscal Year 2025 season during the H1B registration period for this fiscal year, which was available from March 6th, 2024 to March 25th, 2024.
- Initial/ First Round Lottery Done: They have completed the initial round of H1B Lottery (random selection) from the submitted H1B registrations in the H1B Registration Online System that were filed correctly online. There was no preference given to anyone in the lottery, it is pure random selection. Also, the Lottery selection process changed this year and it was based on unique beneficiary’s passport number or travel document number.
- Notifications Sent: USCIS says that they have notified all the employers, who submitted H1B registrations for the FY 2025 season, regarding the selections from the H1B FY 2025 Lottery process first round.
- The H1B selection notices indicate that the employers can file H1B petitions on behalf of their selected applicant with USCIS.
Registration Selection Statuses after First Round H1B Lottery
The employers/ attorneys would see one of the below four statuses in their online accounts, where they submitted H1B registrations
- Submitted: This status means that the H1B registration was not selected in first round of lottery and continues to be eligible for subsequent lottery rounds, if they happen. For your backgroud, we had second-round lottery for FY 2024 season, you can check H1B cap count updates History.
- Selected: If you see this status, it means that you were lucky and your H1B registration was selected in the first round lottery. You can use the H1B Registration Selection Notice that is generated by USCIS and file an H1B petition for the applicant selected in lottery.
- Not Selected: It means that the employer is not eligible to file an H1B cap-subject petition for their submitted registration.
- Denied – Duplicate Registration: This status means that multiple registrations were submitted for the same applicant by the same employer. If you see this status, all other registrations that were submitted by the employer for the same applicant would be considered invalid.
- Invalidated-failed Payment: If the payment was not successful due to reasons such as declined, disputed, not reconciled, etc. then you would see this status. If this status is present, that registration would not have been part of the lottery selection as well.
- Deleted: This means that the submitted H1B registration was deleted and is not eligible for selection. This is a new status from FY 2025 Season.
- Processing Submission: This status means that USCIS is processing your H1B registration and can take up to 72 hours for the case to show on the case details page. You cannot access your draft during this time. This is a new status from FY 2025 Season.
In general, if the H1B registration was submitted properly, many may not see ‘Not Selected’ status at the moment. You will see this status for all the registrations that were not selected when USCIS makes a decision that they do not need to run further rounds of lottery and they have received enough petitions to meet the H1B cap.
You may join H1B 2025 Telegram Group or H1B Facebook Group to interact with community
H1B cap-subject petitions can be filed from April 1st, 2024
- USCIS says that H1B cap-subject petitions can be submitted with USCIS for all the selected applicants in the H1b lottery starting from April 1st, 2024.
- Only Selected Applicants: Only employers with selected H1B registrations can file an H1B petition for the selected applicant only. They cannot change the applicant name and details for H1B petition filing.
Where to file H1B petition? Online Filing? Eligibility Proofs
- Lockbox Location Submission: As per USCIS, starting from April 1st, 2024, all employers filing H1B petitions (Form I-129) should send the petition to USCIS Lockbox Locations, including the FY 2025 season petitions. Employers cannot send H1B petitions to USCIS Service Centers anymore.
- There is no grace period for this. If anyone does not comply and sends an H1B petition to the USCIS service center, they will reject the H1B petition. Also, if they reject the petition, it will not retain the filing date. Here are the details of the Lockbox Locations for H1B petitions.
- Submit Passport: USCIS is also asking all employers must submit evidence of the submitted applicant’s valid passport or travel document details that were submitted during the H1B registration period.
- US Masters Proof: If the applicant is filing for US Masters quota, they need to submit proof related to the same either transcripts or degree award certificate as applicable.
- Proof of Eligibility: The H1B registration process is just for selection only and does not indicate approval of H1B petition. The employer need to submit all the proofs to establish the eligibility for H1B visa and demonstrate that the applicant and job position meets the same.
New Fees from April 1st, New Form Edition
USCIS reiterated their previous guidance on the change in the Application Fee, which is for Form I-129 Form as listed below:
- Paper Filing: $780
- Online Filing: $730
For small companies with less than or equal to 25 employees and non-profits
- Paper Filing: $460 plus
- Online Filing: $460
Also, USCIS would be using a new version of H1B Application form that employers need to use starting from April 1st, 2024. Employers need to use “04/01/24 edition” for FY 2025 season petitions and all other general H1B petitions that are filed on or after April 1st, 2024 . You can check the new Form I-129 on USCIS website.
Online Filing Option for FY 2025 Season, Organizational Accounts
- Starting from April 1st, 2024, employers can file H1B petition online. USCIS launched the online organization accounts for the FY 2025 season on Feb 28th, 2024 that helps employers and their attorneys collaborate and file H1B registrations, H1B petitions and also the premium processing forms related the filings.
- USCIS also launched the online filing option for H1B petition using Form I-129 and also the premium processing Form I-907 starting from March 25th, 2024.
- They said that starting from April 1st, 2024, employers can submit H1B petitions and corresponding premium processing forms online. This online filing option is also available for the H1B FY 2025 season cap-subject petitions.
- Also, USCIS continues to have the paper filing option for all employers as it exists today. It is totally up to the employer’s choice.
H1B Receipts Delays, Prepaid Mailers Guidance for FY 2025
- No Prepaid Mailers: In the past, USCIS used to allow employers to send in prepaid mailers to send out any communication or notices related to their H1B petition. Similar to last year, they are not using prepaid mailers for FY 2025 season.
- Automated process – First Class Mail: USCIS has automated the entire process of mailing receipt notices and will use first-class mail to send out receipt notices and further communication with petitioners/ employers.
- H1B Receipt Notice: USCIS will issue an H1B receipt notice, which is a Form I-797 Notice of Action, for all the H1B petitions that are timely and properly filed. It is a proof that they have received the petition and it is processed. Check Sample H1B Receipt Notice. You can use a receipt notice to check the status of your H1B Case online at USCIS website
- H1B Receipt Notice Delays: Due to the large volume of H1B petitions filed with USCIS, there can be delays with issuance of the H1B receipt notice.
- As an employer, if you have received confirmation from the delivery serivce like FedEx, UPS, etc. that your petition was delivered, then you need to wait for 30 days since the confirmation of the delivery for the receipt notice.
- Just because, the employer did not get a receipt notice on time, the employer should NOT file a second H1B petition, if they have confirmation that the delivery service has delivered the petition with USCIS.
- Employers can contact USCIS contact center, if you do not receive notice in the 30 days window.
- Duplicable H1B Petitions: If the employer submits a second petition, despite confirmation from the delivery service that their petition was delivered to USCIS, it will be considered as duplicate petition and will result in a denail or revovation of both the petitions filed by them.
- Delivery Service Error – Second Petition: If the employer has proof that the delivery service did not deliver the H1B petition package to USCIS and it was lost, then they can submit a second H1B petition with USCIS and provide a proof why the second petition is being filed with evidence and also submit a request to withdraw the first H1B petition.
Total H1B registrations for FY 2025 Season? Premium Processing?
The current press release from USCIS does not indicate any details on the total number of H1B registrations received by them for FY 2025 season. It is similar to last year, where USCIS did not release the total count of registrations during this time of the year.
They released the total H1B registrations count later in April. We can expect to see this official count of total H1B registrations as well either end of this month or next month. FYI, last year there were 781K H1B registrations submitted for FY 2024 season. If you see anyone saying total number of H1B registrations, it is pure speculation or prediction based on their own analysis like our H1B 2025 Lottery Predictions.
Premium Processing for H1B Petition: In general, you can file an H1B petition with USCIS in premium processing, if you want to get the decision within 15 days of the filing. Read H1B Premium Processing vs Regular Processing for more info. USCIS has not indicated any restrictions on filing the H1B petition in premium processing. So, technically, one can file H1B petition in premium processing for FY 2025 season.
Statistics on H1B Registrations: The current press release or the web pages of H1B registration does not have any statistics on the total registrations, split by regular vs. masters, how many employers filed, etc. We expect to see these details later in April.
H1B 2025 Case Tracker – Anonymous
The next steps of H1B process are going to be long and can be very frustrating waiting for receipt notices, approvals, if not filed in premium processing. To help everyone stay calm and get macro trends, please add your H1B case details on the anonymous H1B 2025 Case Tracker.
Read Next Steps after H1B Registration Lottery – Flow Chart, Timeline.
Common FAQs
If your employer said, you were not selected, it means that you were not selected in the first round of lottery. Until we see the actual number of registrations count with USCIS and how many they have selected, we cannot say. The reason is, we may have second or third round lottery, if less registrations were selected or many who were selected did not file
Usually, large employers can take couple of days to get their act together due to the internal process and it can take time to inform you. So, do not be disheartened and give your employer some time. Ask them regarding the status of your registration to get the status and then plan.
Well, if the offers are genuine like one from Google and other from Microsoft and they both filed H1B for you and you got selected in both places, then you are fine. But, if you applied through IT Body shops without a real job offer and some malpractices to game the system, you would likely be in trouble. In the past USCIS sent NOID Notices for applicants who filed multiple registrations after they filed petitions.
What do you think of the USCIS Press release? What is your speculation? Share your thoughts in comments section below.
Let’s wait for next lottery
Hello
its Apr 2nd and USCIS is done with results but i am still seeing “N/A” under action. what does that mean?
Mohammed,
Are you an employer or applicant? Did you submit it or your company did it?