As the deadline to submit H-1B cap petitions rapidly approaches, we recommend revisiting our post on summer travel plans and key dates for H-1B applicants. USCIS has clarified that the agency will accept paper-filed cap-subject H-1B petitions received on July 1, 2024. However, the June 30th deadline still applies for electronic submissions.
USCIS has not announced whether the agency will conduct a second random selection from this year's H-1B cap registrations. Since moving to an electronic registration system in 2020, USCIS has run a second - or even third - selection process, with the exception of FY2023.
USCIS data indicates a significant decrease in the total number of registrations submitted compared to last year. This is likely attributable to measures implemented by USCIS to prevent fraud by moving to a beneficiary-centric selection process. Under the new system, random selections were made by unique beneficiary, as opposed to selections from a pool of registrations. This gave beneficiaries the same chance of selection, regardless of how many registrations were submitted on their behalf.
Based on these programmatic changes, USCIS has curtailed attempts for organizations and individuals to gain an unfair selection advantage. Therefore, a second lottery seems unlikely, as USCIS has fewer registrations to disqualify, decreasing the need for additional selections to meet the annual quota. We will share developments about a subsequent lottery, if and when updates become available.
This post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used as legal advice. If you have questions about the H-1B process or alternative visa paths, please reach out to us at info@veridian-immigration.com.
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