Glitch forces H-1B visa registration deadline to be extended by 3 days

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) extended by three days the initial registration period for H-1B visas for fiscal year 2025. This came after a technical glitch prevented users from completing their H-1B application process.

“Currently, some users are not able to complete the H-1B registration process. We apologise for any inconvenience & are working to fix the issue. We will extend the registration deadline. Stay tuned for more details,” the USCIS had said earlier.

Reports said that signatures went missing on Form G-28 for H-1B registrations.

Form G-28 allows applicants to designate an attorney or accredited representative to handle their immigration-related applications and appeals.

The registration period for the H-1B visa process was set to close on March 22, 2024, but will now remain open until noon Eastern on March 25, 2024.

During this extended period, prospective petitioners and their representatives utilise a USCIS online account to electronically register each beneficiary for the selection process and pay the associated registration fee.

The USCIS still intends to notify selected registrants by March 31, 2024.

The USCIS introduced new myUSCIS organisational accounts on February 28, 2024.

These accounts allow multiple individuals within an organisation, along with their legal representatives, to collaborate on and prepare H-1B registrations, petitions, and associated Form I-907 for Premium Processing Service.

The agency will commence accepting online filing of the forms for H-1B cap petitions on April 1.

In 2022, Indians secured 77% of the 320,000 approved H-1B visas. This year, the USCIS anticipates around 350,000 applicants, a decrease attributed to new measures against fraud.

Last year, over 400,000 out of 759,000 registrations were duplicated.

The USCIS filing fee for beneficiaries on H-1B petitions will rise by 70%, while those on L-1 petitions will see a 201% increase, and individuals on O-1 petitions will face a 129% increase, according to the reports.