H-1B Worker Visa Registration Opens for Fiscal Year 2025

The H-1B worker visa registration process for fiscal year 2025 officially began at noon Eastern Standard Time on March 6th. USCIS, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, announced the opening of the online registration window which will remain open until March 22nd at noon. All registrations must be submitted exclusively through the USCIS online portal.

Employers or their authorized representatives are required to create a USCIS online account to register potential H-1B visa applicants. Individual foreign workers cannot register themselves. The entire registration process is handled by the employer or their designated representative.

Upon successful registration, USCIS will issue a unique confirmation number for each entry. This number allows users to check the registration status. A registration fee of $10 applies to each individual applicant.

Employers and their agents are responsible for registering all relevant details of the prospective employee through their accounts. This now includes providing passport numbers or travel permit documents. Only one registration is allowed per passport number. Any duplicate applications for the same person will result in disqualification.

USCIS aims to notify applicants about the status of their applications by March 31st through their online accounts, if a sufficient number of applications are received by the March 22nd deadline. Selections are made through a lottery system, and only chosen applicants can proceed to the visa processing stage which begins on April 1st.

The total H-1B visa quota for fiscal year 2025 is set at 85,000 visas. This includes a base allocation of 65,000 visas and an additional 20,000 reserved for individuals holding a U.S. master’s degree.

To be eligible for the H-1B visa, foreign workers must have a job offer from a U.S. company. The job must either require a bachelor’s degree or higher due to its complexity or be in a field where a bachelor’s degree is the standard requirement.

There are four ways for potential beneficiaries to meet the education requirement: holding a U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher, having a foreign degree recognized as equivalent to a U.S. degree, possessing a state-issued professional license, or demonstrating specialized education and expertise in the relevant field.

For Nepali applicants specifically, data for the first four months of fiscal year 2024 shows that 395 Nepalese individuals secured H-1B worker visas, with 99 dependents obtaining H4 visas. This trend appears to be consistent with previous years.

Individuals should be wary of any entity claiming to facilitate visa applications in exchange for money. Legitimate companies do not charge applicants any fees. To avoid falling victim to scams, it’s recommended to thoroughly research companies, check online reviews, and avoid any entities requesting upfront fees.

The H-1B visa process is initiated by the U.S. employer offering the job, not the foreign worker seeking employment. Following successful registration and USCIS approval, the foreign worker can then begin the process of relocating to the U.S. with their H-1B visa.