FY2025 H-1B Cap Season

On January 30, 2024, USCIS announced a series of changes that will impact the FY2025 H-1B registration system and cap filing season.

H-1B Registration Final Rule – DHS posted an advance copy of the final rule revising the H-1B Registration System and it is set to be published on February 2, 2024.

USCIS published the revised Fee Schedule final rule, which will go into effect on April 1, 2024. All H-1B petitions postmarked on or after April 1, 2024, will be required to pay the following new fees:

Form I-129

$780 for employers with 26 or more Full-Time Employees (FTEs)
$460 for small employers (25 or fewer FTEs) and nonprofit entities

Asylum Program Fee – This is a new fee that will be assessed on all Form I-129 and I-140 petitions to help cover the costs of asylum adjudications.

– $600 for employers with 26 or more Full-Time Employees (FTEs)
– $300 for small employers (25 FTEs or less)
– $0 for nonprofit organizations

The FY2025 Initial H-1B registration period will run from 12 noon (ET) on March 6, 2024, through 12 noon (ET) on March 22, 2024. Registrants may begin creating or upgrading to the new organizational accounts as of 12 noon ET on February 28, 2024.

Online filing for organizational accounts will launch on February 28, 2024, for non-cap H-1B petitions.

Organizational accounts will replace registrant accounts and will be required during the registration period.

Accounts may begin to be created, or updated as appropriate, but must wait until March 6 to enter beneficiary information.H-1B cap subject online filing will open on April 1, 2024.