FY 2024 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Will Be Open from March 1 to March 17

On Jan. 27, 2023, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed that the FY 2024 H-1B cap initial registration period will be open from March 1, 2023, 12:00 p.m. ET to March 17, 2023, 12:00 p.m. ET. 

The H-1B registration process will follow a similar process as prior years. H-1B cap-subject petitioners and their representatives are required to create and use a myUSCIS online account to register and pay the required $10 registration fee for each beneficiary. Each organization must have a myUSCIS online account for each entity that will sponsor beneficiaries.

The USCIS also has indicated that if it receives more than the requisite number of registrations by March 17, it will hold a random selection and plans to notify myUSCIS account holders by March 31. Those with selected registrations will have their myUSCIS accounts updated to include a selection notice, which will include details about when and where to file the H-1B petition.

As a reminder, the following information is required for each proposed beneficiary to submit the registration:

• Beneficiary’s full name, as it appears on their passport

• Beneficiary’s date of birth and country of birth

• Beneficiary’s passport number and country of citizenship

• Confirmation whether the beneficiary is eligible for the U.S. advanced degree cap. A beneficiary is eligible for the U.S. advanced degree cap if they will obtain the advanced degree by the time the H-1B petition is filed with USCIS.

The earliest day a selected FY 2024 H-1B petition will be accepted by USCIS is April 1, 2023. Petitioners will have a 90-day period to submit petitions. Beneficiaries of successful FY 2024 H-1B petitions will be eligible to begin working in the United States on Oct. 1, 2023. It is recommended to prepare and file supporting Labor Condition Applications with the Department of Labor as soon as possible to ensure that selected FY 2024 H-1B petitions can be timely filed with USCIS.

The USCIS has yet to confirm if it will accept Premium Processing requests for FY 2024 H-1B petitions.

The USCIS notice regarding the FY 2024 H-1B cap initial registration period can be found at H-1B Electronic Registration Process.

Elizabeth Przybysz also contributed to this article.