The H-1B Registration Period Opens March 9

US Citizenship and Immigration Services just announced that the H-1B registration period will run from March 9 through March 25^th for cap-subject petitions. The H-1B program is for employers to fill positions for professional, specialty occupation positions. There is a limit on the number of H-1B visas available each fiscal year—65,000 regular cap and an additional 20,000 for prospective employees with a U.S. Master’s degree—and the demand for these visas has exceeded the number available for many years. Institutions of higher education and some related entities are exempt for this cap, but most businesses are subject to it.

This is the second year in which USCIS has a registration period from which a lottery is run. If your business would like to petition for an employee to fill a professional position, now is the time to act. You must register within the period to be included in the lottery.

Please contact Smith Knudson today if you would like to discuss using this program to the benefit of your business, or if you hope your employer or prospective employer will petition for you.