USCIS Announces Timeline For FY 2021 H-1B Electronic Pre-Registration Process

On December 6, 2019, USCIS announced that it officially plans to implement the electronic H-1B registration process for petitioners seeking to submit H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY 2021.¹ USCIS also confirmed the dates of the new program, which will include an initial registration period from March 1 through March 20, 2020.² The H-1B visa is a popular option for nonimmigrant workers used by businesses that want to employ foreign nationals to work in a specialty occupation requiring theoretical or technical expertise.

What Changed?

Nearly a year ago, on January 31, 2019, USCIS issued a new final rule, announcing sweeping changes to the H-1B visa lottery process.³ The final rule introduced the electronic pre-registration requirement, along with the reversal of the order by which USCIS selects petitions under the H-1B cap and the advanced degree exemptions.⁴ DHS suspended the electronic registration requirement for the past H-1B electronic registration period,⁵ mak