USCIS made an announcement earlier today indicating the closure of the H1B registration period for the H1B Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Season and summarizing all the changes that they have implemented for the FY 2025 season in areas such as Fees, Online Filing, organization Accounts, changes to filing location, etc. This article will summarize all the changes made in the announcement and how to be prepared.
If you are looking for background and updates for the latest H1B season, read H1B FY 2025 News, Timeline, and Updates.
USCIS News Update on H1B FY 2025 Changes
USCIS made an official press release earlier today, March 26th, 2024, indicating the closure of the H1B Season for FY 2025 and outlined all the changes that applicants need to be aware of, when filing the H1B petition. We will review all the aspects that USCIS addressed in the press release in the below sections.
H1B FY 2025 Registration Period Closed
As all of you know, the H1B Registration period for Fiscal Year 2025 ended on March 25th, 2024, at 12 Noon. In fact, the registration period was supposed to end on March 22nd, 2024, but was later extended until March 25th, 2024, due to some system outage issues.
USCIS confirmed the closure of the H1B registration period in the press release and said that they would soon conduct the H1B Lottery for the registrations submitted as part of the registration process and inform the employers of selected applicants’ details.
USCIS did not give a specific date for releasing the results but said, “We will soon randomly select enough beneficiaries…”. We can expect the results to come in anytime from today. The latest date for the same is March 31st, 2024. We will keep the blog updated as we get any official or unofficial updates. Stay tuned.
H1B Petition Filings Location Change to Lockbox
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.
If you have submitted H1B Registration for H1B FY 2025 season, please add your case to H1B Visa 2025 Case Tracker for community benefit. It is anonymous and used to track macro trends and helps you and everyone.
New H1B Fees, Form Edition for FY 2025 Season Petitions
USCIS re-iterated in the press release the changes to the H1B filing fees that will be effective from April 1st, 2024. Below is the fee that is planned, you can read more at H1B Filing Fee Guide.
The main change is for the Application Fee 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, there is 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. See the screenshot below on where to look for the form edition.
Also, USCIS re-iterated the changes to the H1B Premium Processing fee that are also applicable for FY 2025 season. The premium processing fee has been $2805 since Feb 26, 2024 and is applicable for FY 2025 season petitions. Employers need to use the correct edition, “Edition 02/26/24”, of the Premium Processing Form I-907, as show in the screenshot below:
Online Filing of H1B petitions, Organization Accounts
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 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.
No Pre-paid Mailers
USCIS, in the past, used to send out communication using pre-paid mailers. They will not be used to send out any communication for H1B petitions as of March 25th, 2024. As the whole process is now driven by Lockbox or online submission, they are not going to use the prepaid mailers. They also confirmed the automation of printing and mailing of H1B approval notices. Also, users can use MyUSCIS account to get email or text message notifications for their case changes.
You can read the official press release on USCIS website.
If you are wondering about the next steps after H1B Registration process, read article: Next Steps after H1B Lottery.
What do you think of the changes of online filing options and organization accounts for H1B petition filings? Add your thoughts in comments section below.
Hi Kumar,
Are the results supposed to get out today after 3 pm or this time it should come around 30th March as USCIS recently closed the initial filing period on 25th March itself.
DT,
Results are out already. Check H1B Lottery Results FY 2025 are out, Sample notice
Hi Kumar ,
Asking for My son H1b registration status , if employer registered his Passport number , will he get any email or notification from company ( employer) or USCIS ? employer is not giving proper clarity . suggest please….
Yes your son do not get any notification from USCIS but employer will get beneficiary number after registration for your son application.
His employer should share that number with your son. But I guess we can no way check the status of the registration with embassy. Only employer can check. Even after he picked in lottery only employer will get the notification and employer pass the message to us.
Kumar please clarify if i am wrong.
Sai is correct!
The employer would get the notification and they only can check. There beneficiary confirmation number is immaterial as you cannot check online. Read more at How to check H1B Lottery Status
Hi Kumar,
I think this statement is typo error “In fact, the registration period was supposed to end on March 22nd, 2024, but was later extended until March 25th, 2025, due to some system outage issues.”
I think it should be March 26th, 2024 , Correct me if my understanding is wrong.
March 25,2024
Chai, You are right. It is a typo. Good catch. Fixed it. thanks!